Immunopotentiating Activity of Dendrobium Species in Mouse Splenocytes

David T. W. Lau, Michel K. T. Poon, Hoi Yan Leung, Kam Ming Ko

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DOI: 10.4236/cm.2011.23017                

Abstract

This study aimed to explore a pharmacological activity marker for quality assurance of Dendrobium species. The immunopotentiating activity in aqueous extracts prepared from four Dendrobium species, including D. officinalis, was assessed by an in vitro assay of concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated proliferation of mouse splenocytes. Four samples of commercially available Dendrobii Caulis were also analyzed for comparison. The results indicated that the aqueous extract of D. officinalis produced immunopotentiating action, as evidenced by the increase in Con A-stimulated proliferation of mouse splenocytes, with the extent of stimulation being more prominent than those of other tested Dendrobium species and Dendrobii Caulis samples. In conclusion, an in vitro immunopotentiation assay may be used for assessing the pharmacological activity of Dendrobium species. The finding that D. officinalis produced a more potent immunopotentiating action is consistent with its "yin-nourishing" action in Chinese medicine, which is more effective than other Dendrobium species in clinical use.

Keywords

Dendrobium Offincalis, Dendrobii Caulis, Splenocyte Proliferation, Concanavalin A

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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