GINSENG-ENHANCED OXIDATIVE AND PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITIES OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES FROM BOVINE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD AND STRIPPING MILK

This study investigated the effect of a dried ginseng extract on polym orphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) in bovine blood and milk. In a test for chemiluminescence (CL), PMNL were preincubated in ginseng solution at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 for 60 min, and then stimulated with bovine se rum opsonized zymosan. The CL was about 30% higher for the cells pre-t reated with ginseng solutions 100-1 000 mu g/ml as compared with the n on-ginseng-treated cells. in a test for phagocytosis, PMNL and fluores cent microspheres were incubated with ginseng in RPMI-1640 supplemente d with 10% bovine serum at 37 degrees C for 60 min. The proportion of actively phagocytic cells in the ginseng-treated group was greater tha n that in the non-ginseng treated group.