Investigation of Immunological Parameters Following the Administration of Temperature-Processed Panax quinquefolius L. in Mice

Abstract

Thermal processing is the most common drying method for Panax quinquefolius L. (PQ). This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of PQ treated at constant and different temperatures on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression in mice. Routine HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the spleen, ELISA measured cytokine levels, lymphocyte subsets in the spleen were measured by flow cytometry, and MAPK signaling pathway protein expression was detected by Western blotting. The results showed that PQ treated at constant and different temperatures could slow down the weight loss and immune organ damage and improve the proliferation rate of splenic T lymphocytes, phagocytosis of macrophages, and white blood cell count in immunosuppressed mice. In addition, the serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IgA, IgG, and IgM were significantly increased, and the expression levels of spleen proteins p-P38, p-JNK, and p-ERK were also significantly increased in mice treated with PQ treated with different processing methods, and the effect of PQ treated with constant temperature was more significant. Therefore, PQ after heat treatment is a potent immunomodulator, and the processing pattern has some effects on the immunocompetence of PQ.