Effect of Radix Isatidis polysaccharides on immunological function and expression of immune related cytokines in mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of Radix Isatidis polysaccharides (RIP) on the immunological function and expression of immune related cytokines in mice. Methods: Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups, the normal group, cyclophosphamide (Cy) model group, Levamisole (positive control) group, RIP low, medium and high dose groups (0.08 g/kg, 0.16 g/kg, 0.32 g/kg, respectively), ten in each group. By detecting the value of abdominal macrophage phagocytic index, serum hemolysin (HC50), proliferation of lymphocytes and expression of related cytokines, interleukin (IL-2) and interferon gamma (INF- gamma), the effect of RIP on immunological function and its mechanism were studied. Results: RIP could improve the level of hemolysin in immunological function depressed mice. The results showed that the value of macrophage phagocytic index in the high dose RIP group increased from 1.11 +/- 0.13 to 1.42 +/- 0.26. The level of IL-2 and INF- gamma could be decreased by Cy to 38.12 +/- 6.88 ng/L and 139.23 +/- 29.87 ng/L, respectively, while RIP in high dose could increase the secretion of IL-2 and INF- gamma to 53.54 +/- 14.43 ng/L and 189.91 +/- 32.63 ng/L, respectively. Conclusion: RIP could enhance non-specific immunological function, humoral immunity and cellular immunity in mice.