Interferon-γ-Mediated Natural Killer Cell Activation by an Aqueous Panax ginseng Extract

Figure 2

Activation of NK cytotoxicity by oral administration of aqueous P. ginseng extract. (a) WT B6 mice ( in each group) were administered with aqueous extract of P. ginseng (20 mg/kg; circle, 40 mg/kg; triangle, 100 mg/kg; diamond) on days -2 and -1 (closed symbols) or on day -1 (open symbols). Control mice (open square) () were administered with the same volume (200 μL) of water on days -2 and -1. Liver and spleen MNCs were prepared and cytotoxicity was analyzed using NK-sensitive YAC-1 cells, at the indicated effector/target ratios. Data are shown as the mean ± SD of triplicate samples of all tested mice. Similar results were obtained in three independent experiments. as compared with the control at each effector/target ratio. (b) The populations of liver and spleen MNCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. MNC numbers and % of NK cells are indicated below every panel. Data are shown as mean ± SD of three mice in each group. Similar results were obtained in three independent experiments. (c) WT BALB/c and WT B6 mice ( in each group) were administered with aqueous extract of P. ginseng (50 mg/kg; closed square) or the same volume (200 μL) of water (open square) on days -2 and -1. Liver and spleen MNCs were prepared and cytotoxicity was analyzed using YAC-1 cells at the indicated effector/target ratios. Data are shown as mean ± SD of triplicate samples of all tested mice. Similar results were obtained in three independent experiments. as compared with the control at each effector/target ratio.

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