drive DCs into maturation and increased the expression of cell-surface markers like
MHC class II, CD80, CD83, and CD86. M4 primed mature DCs boosted
antigen-presentation ability as evident from the production of IFN-c and 51Cr by
the DCs. A reciprocal effect is seen on the treatment of dendritic cells with whole
saponins of Pinex ginseng followed by oxidized LDLp. It inhibits the maturation of
DCs and downregulates maturation markers like HLA-DR, CD1a, CD40, CD86,
etc. It also inhibits TNF-a and IL-12. These reciprocal effects of P. ginseng might
be due to the activation of different signaling pathways (Su et al. 2010). Ginsan also
shows immunostimulatory effects on the maturation of DCs (Kim et al. 2009).
Ginsan not only modulates innate immune response but also affects adaptive
immune response. Orally administered with ginseng before infection with
Salmonella in mice showed higher serum IgG1 and IgG2 and IgA against
Salmonella (Na et al. 2010). Ginsenoside injected subcutaneously increases serum
antibodies specific against Toxoplasma gondii and ginsenoside likewise accordingly increase serum special immunoglobulins like IgG1, IgG, IgG2a and IgG2b
mechanism against H3N2 influenza virus (Yoo et al. 2012). Both ginseng and
ginsenoside stimulated T-cell proliferation and affect cell-mediated immune
response. It was also found that splenocytes cultured with ginseng produce
pro-inflammatory IL-2, IFN-c, IL-1a, and GMSF (Kim et al. 1998). This effect was
reversed in mice infected with S. aureus. Macrophages treated with ginseng radix
extract (GRE) produce PINFLCs such as IFN-c, IL-1b, TNF-a, and IL-6 in-vitro
(Liou et al. 2006) possibly through activation of TLR4 signaling (Nakaya et al.
2004) through a non-LPS agent present in GRE. The active compound of ginseng
can also downregulate TLR2 and its downstream Myd88 and inhibit PINFLCs
production (Ahn et al. 2005).
6.3.15 Picrorhiza Scrophulariiflora (Family:
Scrophulariaceae)
This plant is commonly named as Kutki found in Alpine Himalayas, Tibet. The
rhizomes are rich in iridoid glycosides phenolic glycosides, phenylethanoid glycosides and terpenoids. Extracts of P. scrophulariiflora inhibits lipid peroxidation
and possess free radical scavenging activity. Scrocaffeside A isolated from
P. scrophulariiflora is an immunostimulant. In response to Con A and LPS, it
significantly increased the number of splenocytes. It also enhanced the activity of
macrophages and NK cells even in the absence of stimulation (Coico et al. 2015).
The number of mature CD4
+ and CD8
+ cells and both Th1 and Th2 cytokines also
significantly increased. Activated CD4
+ T-cells differentiate either into Th1 type
cells and secrete TNF-a, IL-12, IL-2, IFN-c, or into Th2 cells and secrete IL-5,
IL-10, IL-4, IL-13, and this balance is critical in deciding the immune response and
ultimately the disease outcome. Picrogentiosides isolated from P. scrophulariiflora
enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes comparable to Con A and LPS and
6 Natural Compounds Extracted from Medicinal Plants …
245
MHC class II, CD80, CD83, and CD86. M4 primed mature DCs boosted
antigen-presentation ability as evident from the production of IFN-c and 51Cr by
the DCs. A reciprocal effect is seen on the treatment of dendritic cells with whole
saponins of Pinex ginseng followed by oxidized LDLp. It inhibits the maturation of
DCs and downregulates maturation markers like HLA-DR, CD1a, CD40, CD86,
etc. It also inhibits TNF-a and IL-12. These reciprocal effects of P. ginseng might
be due to the activation of different signaling pathways (Su et al. 2010). Ginsan also
shows immunostimulatory effects on the maturation of DCs (Kim et al. 2009).
Ginsan not only modulates innate immune response but also affects adaptive
immune response. Orally administered with ginseng before infection with
Salmonella in mice showed higher serum IgG1 and IgG2 and IgA against
Salmonella (Na et al. 2010). Ginsenoside injected subcutaneously increases serum
antibodies specific against Toxoplasma gondii and ginsenoside likewise accordingly increase serum special immunoglobulins like IgG1, IgG, IgG2a and IgG2b
mechanism against H3N2 influenza virus (Yoo et al. 2012). Both ginseng and
ginsenoside stimulated T-cell proliferation and affect cell-mediated immune
response. It was also found that splenocytes cultured with ginseng produce
pro-inflammatory IL-2, IFN-c, IL-1a, and GMSF (Kim et al. 1998). This effect was
reversed in mice infected with S. aureus. Macrophages treated with ginseng radix
extract (GRE) produce PINFLCs such as IFN-c, IL-1b, TNF-a, and IL-6 in-vitro
(Liou et al. 2006) possibly through activation of TLR4 signaling (Nakaya et al.
2004) through a non-LPS agent present in GRE. The active compound of ginseng
can also downregulate TLR2 and its downstream Myd88 and inhibit PINFLCs
production (Ahn et al. 2005).
6.3.15 Picrorhiza Scrophulariiflora (Family:
Scrophulariaceae)
This plant is commonly named as Kutki found in Alpine Himalayas, Tibet. The
rhizomes are rich in iridoid glycosides phenolic glycosides, phenylethanoid glycosides and terpenoids. Extracts of P. scrophulariiflora inhibits lipid peroxidation
and possess free radical scavenging activity. Scrocaffeside A isolated from
P. scrophulariiflora is an immunostimulant. In response to Con A and LPS, it
significantly increased the number of splenocytes. It also enhanced the activity of
macrophages and NK cells even in the absence of stimulation (Coico et al. 2015).
The number of mature CD4
+ and CD8
+ cells and both Th1 and Th2 cytokines also
significantly increased. Activated CD4
+ T-cells differentiate either into Th1 type
cells and secrete TNF-a, IL-12, IL-2, IFN-c, or into Th2 cells and secrete IL-5,
IL-10, IL-4, IL-13, and this balance is critical in deciding the immune response and
ultimately the disease outcome. Picrogentiosides isolated from P. scrophulariiflora
enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes comparable to Con A and LPS and
6 Natural Compounds Extracted from Medicinal Plants …
245