Long-term oral administration of ginseng extract decreases serum gamma-globulin and IgG 1 isotype in mice

Abstract

Effects of long-term oral administration of ginseng extract on serum protein profile and immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes were studied in mice. Ginseng extract was orally administered to healthy female mice for 52 days at doses of 30 and 150 mg/kg per day and serum protein electrophoretograms and Ig isotypes levels were evaluated. Serum level of γ-globulin was decreased dose dependently to 82% ( P<0.05) and 56% ( P<0.01) of control values at the doses of 30 and 150 mg/kg per day, respectively. Levels of total protein, albumin, α 2- and β-globulin fractions, as well as the ratio of albumin to globulin (A/G) did not change significantly. However, the α 1-globulin level increased by 24% ( P<0.05) at the doses of 30 and 150 mg/kg per day. Among the Ig isotypes, including IgG 1, IgG 2a, IgG 2b, IgG 3, IgM and IgA, serum IgG 1 was dose dependently decreased to 68% ( P<0.05) of control values at the dose of 150 mg/kg per day without significant changes in other Ig isotypes. As IgG 1 isotype is rarely cytotoxic and can act as a blocking antibody, it is suggested that the selective decrease in serum IgG 1 induced by ginseng extract without changes in the cytotoxic antibodies such as IgG 2a may be helpful for the prevention and inhibition of cancer.