IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF FU-FANG-TAI-PAN-PIAN, A TRADITIONAL CHINESE TONIC MEDICINE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the traditiona l Chinese medicine Fu-Fang-Tai-Pan-Pian on responsiveness of mouse spl een leukocytes to the mitogens concanavalin A (con A), phytohemmagluti nin (PHA), and bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Aqueous and chloroform/metha nol extracts of the drug were prepared and added to mitogen-stimulated cultures at doses ranging from 0.625% to 20% by volume. The aqueous e xtract depressed responsiveness to all mitogens at all doses tested, a nd was significantly more potent in this regard than the organic extra ct. The organic extract depressed responsiveness at low dilutions; how ever it significantly stimulated responsiveness to PHA and LPS, but no t to con A, at dilutions of 2.5% or less. The relative ability of comp ounds partitioning into aqueous and organic extracts of the medicinal mixture to both stimulate and depress the ability of lymphocytes to pr oliferate may provide insight into the mechanism of action of this and related medicines.