Immunostimulatory Effect of Zanthoxylum schinifolium‐Based Complex Oil Prepared by Supercritical Fluid Extraction in Splenocytes and Cyclophosphamide‐Induced Immunosuppressed Rats

Abstract

Complex oil of Zanthoxylum schinifolium and Perilla frutescens seed (ZPCO) is used as a traditional medicine due to its pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunostimulatory effect of ZPCO in isolated splenocytes as well as in an immunosuppressed rat model, which was generated via oral administration of cyclophosphamide. Notably, our results showed that ZPCO exerted an immunity-enhancing effect both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, ZPCO treatment enhanced the viability and inflammatory cytokine production of splenocytes and NK cell activity in vitro. Moreover, this product improved host defense under immunosuppressive conditions by increasing the number of immune cells and promoting the expression of cytokines involved in immune responses. Our results suggest that complex oil including Z. schinifolium should be explored as a novel immunostimulatory agent that could potentially be used for therapeutic purposes or as an ingredient in functional foods.

Immuno-enhancement effects of Platycodon grandiflorum extracts in splenocytes and a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat model

“…Animal experiments were performed as previously described [20]. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were purchased from Samtaco Inc. (Osan, Gyeonggi-do, Korea), and acclimated to the following environmental conditions for 7 days: 12-h light/12-h dark cycle; temperature, 23 ± 1 °C; humidity, 50 ± 5%; and illumination, 150–300 lx.…”

“…Cells were cultured as previously described [20]. Briefly, the spleen of an 8-week-old SD rat was aseptically dissected to obtain splenocytes.…”

“…Cell viability were performed as previously described [20], using a WST-1 Assay Kit (ITSBio, Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Korea) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, splenocytes (2 × 10 5 cells/well) were seeded into 96-well plates and then treated with PGE at various doses along with CP (1600 μg/mL), and incubated for 24 h in an incubator with 5% CO 2 atmosphere.…”

“…NK cell activity was measured as previously described [20]. Briefly, AR42J rat pancreas tumor cells obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, Va., U.S.A.) AR42J cells were used as target cells for the NK cell activity assay, and splenocytes were used as effector cells.…”

“…CTL activity was determined as previously described [20]. Briefly, CTL activity was analyzed using the CytoTox detection kit (TaKaRa) according to the manufacturer’s protocol.…”