Immunomodulatory effects of orally administered aqueous extract from <i>Eupolyphaga sinensis</I> Walker

Abstract

This paper reported the immunnodulation tests of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker in immunity. Mice were fed with E. sinensis water-decoction at a dose of 1.89, 3.78 and 7.56 g/kg/d for 4 weeks, then their immune function was studied. The results of the effects of E. sinensis water-decoction on spleen index, thymus index and carbon expurgation experiments of mice, indicated that E. sinensis did not affect visceral index, but enhanced observably carbon expurgatory index and phagocytic index. E. sinensis water-decoction could stimulate response of delayed hypersensitivity. The proliferation of concanavalin A (ConA)-induced mitogenic reponse for spleen lymphocyte was also increased. The amount of hemolytic antibody in mice serum increased when compared with those of the control group. E. sinensis can enhance immunce function of mice. Therefore E. sinensis has immunnodulation function which could be developed and utilized as health food resource.

Keywords: Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker, mice, immunoregulation, immunological function