Immunomodulatory potentials of water-soluble yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb) polysaccharides (WYPs) for the normal and immuno-suppressed mice were described in this study. For the normal mice, the WYPs at 500 mg kg −1 elevated spleen and thymus indices by 22-42%; promoted macrophages' phagocytosis; lymphocytes' proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity by 18-53%; enhanced IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the splenocytes by 42-45%; raised IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and lysozyme levels in the macrophages by 40-219%; and increased serum IgM, IgA and IgG levels by 44-51%. The WYPs could restore and improve immune status of the cyclophosphamide-treated mice, as they at 500 mg kg −1 elevated spleen and thymus indices by 85-172%; promoted macrophages' phagocytosis, lymphocytes' proliferation and NK cell activity by 24-98%; enhanced IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the splenocytes by 44-109% or IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and lysozyme levels in the macrophages by 53-287%; and increased the three immunoglobulins by 24-69%.

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