Immunostimulatory activity of stem bark of Kalopanax pictus in RAW 264.7 macrophage

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential immune-enhancing effects of hot water extracts from Kalopanax pictus (KPW) stem barks on mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Cytotoxicity and nitric oxide (NO) production were measured after KPW treatment via MTT and Griess assays, respectively. The levels of immune-related proteins such as iNOS and COX-2 were determined by Western blot analysis, and cytokines related to immune responses and phagocytic activity were examined by ELISA. KPW significantly increased NO production in a concentration-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. In addition, the levels of certain enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12) were also significantly upregulated. Furthermore, the phagocytic activity of RAW 264.7 cells was significantly enhanced by KPW treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that KPW have a potential as an immunostimulatory agent.