Dietary Supplementation with an Extract of North American Ginseng in Adult and Juvenile Mice Increases Natural Killer Cells

Abstract

Cells belonging to the innate immune system are referred to as natural killer (NK) cells. We recently demonstrated that normal, pre-weaned infant mice, injected with a proprietary extract of ginseng (CVT-E002) had augmented NK cell numbers vs. sham-injected mice. In the present study, we extended these observations into juvenile and adult mice. Thus, young adult (age: 8-9 wk) C3H mice were given daily dietary CVT-E002 for 4 wk followed by untreated chow for the following 2 months, then euthanized (age: 20-21 wk). Other C3H mice (juvenile: 4-wk-old) were given CVT-E002 under the same protocol and sampled at 18 wk of age. In spite of withdrawing the extract 2 months earlier, the absolute numbers of NK cells in the young adults, remained significantly (p < 0.01), and slightly, elevated in the spleen and bone marrow (BM), respectively. The relative numbers (%) of NK cells in the blood also remained elevated (p < 0.05). In juvenile mice fed CVT-E002, the absolute numbers (spleen, BM) and % (blood) of NK cells were all elevated (p<0.01 - p<0.05). The mechanisms responsible for these super-normal numbers of NK cells long after withdrawal of CVT-E002, is as yet unknown.

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“…Secondly, the daily dosage of CVT-E002 proved to be critical in achieving alopecia amelioration. The significant increase in immune cells (NK cells and non-NK T/B lymphocytes) in all 3 organs (spleen, bone marrow and blood) in the presence of CVT-E002, in vitro and in vivo, under normal and disease conditions, is consistent with several previous observations by other laboratories as well as our own (Wang et al, 2001;2004;Miller et al, 2009;2011a;Durairaj and Miller, 2012;2013). The immune privilege with which the anagen (hair follicle growth center) is imbued under normal conditions is based on numerous carefully balanced factors.…”

“…We summarize here previously published methods (Miller and Kearney, 1997;Maloney et al, 1998;Sun et al, 1999;Miller et al, 2011a, Durairaj and Miller, 2012, 2013 for extracting, preparing, identifying and enumerating lymphocytes and NK cells from the spleen, bone marrow and blood of mice. Although the methods described below are labor intensive, they are highly accurate.…”

“…Described here, is a method which is accurate for identifying and recording small populations of cells such as NK cells (Miller et al, 2011a;Durairaj and Miller, 2012;2013). Upon removal of the spleen from each mouse -both experimental and control -it was pressed through a stainless steel mesh into a combination medium consisting of ice cold Eagles basal essential medium (GIBCO Invitrogen Corp., Burlington, Ontario, Canada), with 10% heatinactivated newborn bovine serum (NBS), also sourced from GIBCO.…”

North American ginseng inhibits myocardial NOX2-ERK1/2 signaling and tumor necrosis factor-α expression in endotoxemia

“…Additionally, NA ginseng also modulates inflammatory and immune responses [12][13][14][15]. However, the effect of NA ginseng on TNF-α expression was inconsistent depending on different cell types and ginseng extracts.…”

Identification of Immunomodulatory Signatures Induced by American Ginseng in Murine Immune Cells

“…Together with Asian ginseng, AG is now among the top 5 of the commonly used herbal medicines for improving physical and psychological performance as well as immunomodulation in the United states [2]. Many animal and human cell studies demonstrate a wide range of pharmacological effects of American ginseng on the regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity [3–7]. However, conflicting results can also be found.…”