Abstract
Effects of long-term oral administration of ginseng extract on serum protein profile and immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes were studied in mice. Ginseng extract was orally administered to healthy female mice for 52 days at doses of 30 and 150 mg/kg per day and serum protein electrophoretograms and Ig isotypes levels were evaluated. Serum level of γ-globulin was decreased dose dependently to 82% (P < 0.05) and 56% (P < 0.01) of control values at the doses of 30 and 150 mg/kg per day, respectively. Levels of total protein, albumin, α2- and β-globulin fractions, as well as the ratio of albumin to globulin (A/G) did not change significantly. However, the α1-globulin level increased by 24% (P < 0.05) at the doses of 30 and 150 mg/kg per day. Among the Ig isotypes, including IgG1, IgG(2a), IgG(2b), IgG3, IgM and IgA, serum IgG1 was dose dependently decreased to 68% (P < 0.05) of control values at the dose of 150 mg/kg per day without significant changes in other Ig isotypes. As IgG1 isotype is rarely cytotoxic and can act as a blocking antibody, it is suggested that the selective decrease in serum IgG1 induced by ginseng extract without changes in the cytotoxic antibodies such as IgG(2a) may be helpful for the prevention and inhibition of cancer.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 55-58 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Ethnopharmacology |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1997 Sept |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by the Research Fund from the Korea Tobacco and Ginseng Research Institute, Korea. We thank Dr. H.-W. Suh for valuable comments and reviewing the English of the manuscript.
Keywords
- Immunoglobulin isotype
- Panax ginseng
- γ-globulin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery