F. Scaglione et al., IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF PANAX-GINSENG CA MEYER (G115) ON ALVEOLARMACROPHAGES FROM PATIENTS SUFFERING WITH CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS, International journal of immunotherapy, 10(1), 1994, pp. 21-24
The results of studies on the effects exerted by ginseng extracts on t
he immune system are contradictory, reporting either suppression or en
hancement of humoral and cellular immunity. This discrepancy could ari
se from the difference in dose levels, composition and duration of the
rapy. This study was performed in order to investigate the effects of
ginseng G115 extract on the activity of alveolar macrophages of patien
ts suffering from chronic bronchitis, in a controlled single-blind des
ign. Two groups of informed volunteers affected with chronic bronchiti
s (20 subjects/group) were respectively treated with G115 extract (100
mg/12 h x 8 weeks) and placebo. The function of alveolar macrophages,
collected by bronchoalveolar lavage before and after 4 and 8 weeks fr
om the onset of treatment, was determined by measuring the phagocytic
activity and killing power towards C. albicans. The results show that
G115 extract is able to improve the immune response of alveolar macrop
hages in chronically compromized subjects. These findings suggest that
substances such as G115 may play an important role in the prevention
and therapy of respiratory disorders.