Agarwood Pill Enhances Immune Function in Cyclophosphamide-induced Immunosuppressed Mice

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering 2023, 28(1), , pp.63-73
• Main Authors: Ji, Seon Yeong, Lee, Hyesook, Hwangbo, Hyun, Kim, Min Yeong, Kim, Da Hye, Park, Beom Su, Koo, Young Tae, Kim, Jin Soo, Lee, Ki Won, Ko, Jong Cheul, Kim, Gi-Young, Bang, EunJin, Choi, Yung Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Body weight; Bone marrow; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; CD80 antigen; CD86 antigen; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cyclophosphamide; Dendritic cells; Dosage; Immune response; Immunoglobulin G; Industrial and Production Engineering; Interleukin 12; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Major histocompatibility complex; Natural killer cells; Research Paper; Resins; Serum levels; Spleen; Supplements; 생물공학
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0345-9

Agarwood is a resinous wood from the tree in the family Thymelaeaceae . It has been used as traditional medicine in China and Southeast Asia countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of agarwood pill (AP) as a supplement to enhance immune function. In this study, immunity-enhancing activity was demonstrated in BALB/c male mice administered with AP for 10 days after intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CPA). Results demonstrated that AP supplementation ameliorated spleen index and body weight changes of CPA-injected mice by increasing the proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes as well as the activity of natural killer cells. Analysis of spleen-derived lymphocytes showed that counts of CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells were slightly recovered in the spleen of mice treated with a high dosage of AP. Serum levels of immune-related cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α were notably restored after AP administration. In addition, serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG were recovered by AP administration at a medium dosage. Furthermore, in analysis of ex vivo bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells, counts of immune-related interleukin-12, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I, MHC-II, CD80, and CD86 were significantly increased by AP treatment in concentration-dependent manner. This study provides reference data for the development of AP as a supplementation to enhance human immune function.