Effects of an Orally Applied Aqueous-Ethanolic Extract of a Mixture of Thujae occidentalis Herba, Baptisiae tinctoriae Radix, Echinaceae purpureae Radix and Echinaceae pallidae Radix on Antibody Response against Sheep Red Blood Cells in Mice[*]

Abstract

The influence of the oral administration of an aqueous-ethanolic extract of a mixture of Thujae occidentalis herba, Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, Echinaceae purpureae radix and Echinaceae pallidae radix, on the immune response in mice was investigated. The data show that the extract significantly enhances the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), induces an increase in the numbers of splenic plaque forming cells (PFC) and an increase in the titer of specific antibodies in the sera of treated animals. The long-term application of the extract over several months also stimulated the PFC-response without affecting spleen weight, total cell yield per spleen or white blood cell count in mice.

Key words

Herbal immunomodulator - Echinacea spp. - Baptisia tinctoria - Thuja occidentalis - peroral application - long-term application - PFC response in mice

1 Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Götz Harnischfeger on the occasion of his 60 ^th birthday

1 Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Götz Harnischfeger on the occasion of his 60 ^th birthday