US20040229852A1 - Pharmaceutical composition for enhancing immunity, and extract of Poria - Google Patents

Pharmaceutical composition for enhancing immunity, and extract of Poria Download PDF

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US20040229852A1
US20040229852A1 US10/717,559 US71755903A US2004229852A1 US 20040229852 A1 US20040229852 A1 US 20040229852A1 US 71755903 A US71755903 A US 71755903A US 2004229852 A1 US2004229852 A1 US 2004229852A1
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pcm
individual
extract
poria extract
poria
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Hang-Ching Lin
Jerming Tseng
Hsiou-Yu Ding
Wen-Liang Chang
Chien-Lian Chao
Hsin-Wen Huang
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Sinphar Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
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Sinphar Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
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Assigned to SINPHAR PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. reassignment SINPHAR PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LIN, HANG-CHING, CHANG, WEN-LIANG, HUANG, HSIN-WEN, TSENG, JERMING, CHAO, CHIEN-LIAN, DING, HSDIOU-YU
Publication of US20040229852A1 publication Critical patent/US20040229852A1/en
Priority to US12/838,545 priority Critical patent/US20100298283A1/en
Priority to US14/069,989 priority patent/US9056067B2/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/56—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/56—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids
    • A61K31/575—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids substituted in position 17 beta by a chain of three or more carbon atoms, e.g. cholane, cholestane, ergosterol, sitosterol
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K36/00—Medicinal preparations of undetermined constitution containing material from algae, lichens, fungi or plants, or derivatives thereof, e.g. traditional herbal medicines
    • A61K36/06—Fungi, e.g. yeasts
    • A61K36/07—Basidiomycota, e.g. Cryptococcus
    • A61K36/076—Poria
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
    • A61P37/04—Immunostimulants

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing lanostane as a potent component thereof for enhancing immunity.
  • the present invention further relates to an extract of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf for the purpose of immunity enhancement.
  • the Poria extract has tonic effect, as well as a smoothing effect on stomach disorder.
  • the Poria extract is classified as a tranquilizer and a uretic agent.
  • the Poria extract is used as one of essential ingredients of the Chinese medicine prescription for vital activity.
  • the Poria extract has a favorable effect on tumor prevention, and that the Poria extract is beneficial to immunity enhancement and gastrointestinal system of a person suffering from a chronic disease.
  • Japan Patent Publication Numbers 55-111791 and 57-38794 disclose an extract which is obtained from the cultivated mycelia of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf and is effective in tumor prevention.
  • the Japan Patent Publication No. 55-111422 discloses an extract which is directly obtained from Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf for use in tumor prevention.
  • the Japan Patent Publication No. 8-119864 discloses an extract which is obtained by extracting Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf with methanol. By separation, triterpene compounds such as lanostanes and horranes are obtained from the extract and are used as anti-emetic agents.
  • 9-025232 discloses triterpene compounds, which is obtained by extracting Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf with methanol. The compounds are useful as a tumor promotion-inhibiting agent.
  • the Japan Patent Publication No. 9-176184 discloses an extract of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf, which is then refined to produce triterpene compounds for use as an agent for inhibiting inflammation and tumor promotion.
  • the China Patent Publication No. 1008183 discloses a method of making a Poria extract containing triterpene compounds.
  • the method involves extracting the Poria powder with an acidic alcohol, neutralizing the extract with a basic solution, concentrating the neutralized solution, adjusting the pH thereof to about 10 and filtering the solution, acidifying the filtrate to form a precipitate, washing the precipitate after filtration, and drying the washed precipitate.
  • the Poria extract so obtained is found to have a tumor-preventive effect and an immunity activation effect.
  • the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method of prepare a potent component having an improved biological activity from Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf, and a Poria extract containing the potent component.
  • a pharmaceutical composition for enhancing immunity of mammal contains one or more lanostane compounds.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is used to adjust or enhance immunity and can be dispensed by a dermal, oral, or hypodermic administration, and may be in a slow-release dosage form.
  • the present invention makes use of the immunity experiments to verify the pharmacological properties of the potent component of the Poria extract.
  • the potent component is a low polarity portion (PCM), which contains major compounds of K1, K2, K3, K4, and trace of K4a, K4b, K5, K6a, K6b, which are all lanostane compounds.
  • PCM low polarity portion
  • the compounds of K1, K2, K3, and K4 have an immunity enhancement effect.
  • the method of the present invention makes use of the conventional extraction process, by means of which a crude extract is obtained.
  • a chromatographic separation is used to separate constituents of the crude extract, which include a lanostane fraction and a horranostane fraction.
  • the lanostane fraction is relatively smaller in polarity than the NYCanostane fraction.
  • the position of the lanostane fraction is identified by the thin layer chromatography, which has a chromatographic value (Rf) being.
  • PCM Poria cocos
  • 2.6 grams of PCM are obtained from one kilogram of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf.
  • three grams of a crude extract are obtained from one kilogram of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf.
  • this crude extract is purified by the method of the present invention, only one gram of PCM is obtained.
  • FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method of the present invention for making lanostane compounds from Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf.
  • FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of making a Poria extract in accordance with a method disclosed by the China Patent Publication No. 1008183, and a low polarity portion of the Poria extract according to the present invention.
  • the lanostane fraction has no toxic effect on vat spleen cells and is pharmacologically effective.
  • the NYCanostane fraction has a toxic effect on rat spleen cells.
  • the present invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition capable of enhancing immunity of mammal, such as Homo sapiens .
  • the composition contains a therapeutically effective amount of lanostane having the following chemical formula (I) as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent for the active ingredient:
  • R 1 is either H or CH 3 ;
  • R 2 is OCOCH 3 , C ⁇ O or OH;
  • R 3 is H or OH;
  • R 4 is —C( ⁇ CH 2 )—C(CH 3 ) 2 R a , wherein R a is H or OH, or —CH ⁇ C(CH 3 )—R b , wherein R b is CH 3 or CH 2 OH; R 5 is H or OH; and R 6 is CH 3 or CH 2 OH.
  • the pharmaceutical composition comprises 0.1-60% of the lanostane (I) by weight of the composition and is orally administered.
  • the present invention also discloses a Poria extract capable of enhancing immunity of mammal.
  • the extract contains 5-60%, preferably 10-20%, of the lanostane (I) by weight of the extract.
  • the extract is substantially devoid of NYCanostane.
  • the present invention covers a method for the preparation of the Poria extract.
  • the method includes a first step in which the metabolites, the fermentation products, and the sclerotium of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf are extract by a solvent, such as water, methanol, ethanol, or a mixture thereof, thereby resulting in production of a liquid extract, which is then concentrated to form a concentrated substance.
  • the concentrated substance is introduced into a silica gel column, and is eluted with an eluent having a low polarity. As a result, an eluate is produced and collected.
  • the concentrated substance is further extracted with a two-phase solvent containing methanol and n-hexane in a volumetric ratio of 1:1.
  • the methanol layer is separated and is concentrated to form a concentrate, which is used as a feed to the silica gel column.
  • the low polarity eluent is a mixed solvent containing dichloromethane and methanol in a volumetric ratio of 96.5:3.5.
  • the lanostane (I) has the following structures:
  • the present invention also discloses a method of enhancing immunity of an individual comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of the lanostane (I) of the present invention.
  • the present invention also discloses a method of enhancing immunity of an individual comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of the Poria extract of the present invention.
  • a Poria powder was made of 30 kilograms of the China-grown Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf.
  • the Poria powder was extracted with 120 L 95% alcohol for 24 hours.
  • the mixture was filtered to obtain a filtrate.
  • the residue was extracted and filtered for another three cycles.
  • the filtrates were combined and concentrated to bring about a dried extract in amount of 265.2 grams.
  • a separation of the dry solid was carried out by means of a silica gel column, which was filled with silica gel 10-40 times of the weight of the dry solid.
  • the silica gel having a diameter of 70-230 mesh was made by Merck corporation with a code of Silica Gel 60.
  • TLC thin layer chromatography
  • the K1 fraction (3.5 g) was further subjected to a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a carbon-18 column and a mobile phase of methanol-water (90:10)). 3.0 grams of K1 component was obtained.
  • HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
  • the PCM-1 fraction was separated into K3, K5, and trace K1 components.
  • the K3 component was further purified to yield K3 (1.93 g) by means of the same HPLC and a mobile phase of methanol-water (84:16).
  • the K5 component was further purified with the same HPLC and two mobile phases of methanol-water (93:7) and (91:9) in sequence to yield K5 (47.6 mg).
  • K6a 21.4 mg
  • K6b 90.7 mg
  • the K4 trace component was subjected to the same HPLC and a mobile phase of methanol-water (76:24) to yield K4a (66.0 mg) and K4b (86.8 mg).
  • K1 mixture
  • EI-MS major component, 528[M] + ; trace component, 526[M] +
  • K1 (major component): 13 C-NMR ( ⁇ c): 35.4 (c-1), 24.5 (c-2), 80.6 (c-3), 38.0 (c-4), 50.7 (c-5), 18.4 (c-6), 26.8 (c-7), 135.0 (c-8), 134.4 (c-9), 37.2 (c-10), 20.9 (c-11), 29.7 (c-12), 48.8 (c-13), 46.3 (c-14), 43.6 (c-15), 26.6 (c-16), 57.3 (c-17), 17.8 (c-18), 19.2 (c-19), 48.6 (c-20), 178.6 (c-21), 31.6 (c-22), 33.2 (c-23), 156.1 (c-24), 34.1 (c-25), 22.0 (c-26), 21.9 (c-27), 28.0 (c-28), 16.8 (c-29), 25.4 (c-30), 107.0 (c-31), 21.1 ( C H 3 COO—), 170.5 (CH 3 C OO—)
  • K2 mixture
  • EI-MS major component
  • 486[M] + trace component
  • K2 (major component): 13 C-NMR ( ⁇ c): 36.6 (c-1), 29.1 (c-2), 78.5 (c-3), 40.0 (c-4), 51.4 (c-5), 19.2 (c-6), 27.4 (c-7), 135.4 (c-8), 135.3 (c-9), 37.9 (c-10), 21.4 (c-11), 30.2 (c-12), 49.3 (c-13), 46.7 (c-14), 44.2 (c-15), 77.1 (c-16), 57.8 (c-17), 18.2 (c-18), 19.8 (c-19), 49.2 (c-20), 179.4 (c-21), 32.1 (c-22), 33.7 (c-23), 156.5 (c-24), 34.6 (c-25), 22.5 (c-26), 22.4 (c-27), 29.1 (c-28), 16.8 (c-29), 25.9 (c-30), 107.5 (c-31)
  • K3 mp: 278-280° C.
  • K4 mp: >300° C.
  • K4a mp: 284-287° C.
  • K4b mp: 230-232° C.
  • K5 mp: 274-275° C.
  • K6a mp: 248-250° C.
  • K6b mp: 267-270° C.
  • a powder was made of two kilograms of the China-grown Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf.
  • a crude extract in an amount of 6.0 g was obtained, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the PCM-E and the PCW-E prepared in Example 2 were orally administered to animals in a dose of 40 mg/kg per day for the purpose of testing the effect of these two portions on growth of spleen cells (immunity cells) of the animals.
  • the immune system of the animals will be enhanced, if the growth of spleen cells thereof are stimulated; and will be adversely affected, if the growth of spleen cells are inhibited, i.e. the spleen cells are killed due to toxicity.
  • the spleen cells were cultivated in vitro for five days before they were compared for cellular growth by means of MTT assay, which was determined by an immunological research method described hereinafter. The results are listed in the Table 1.
  • the cellular growth of the spleen of the mice was apparently promoted on the third day and the fourth day in the wake of oral administration of PCM-E. Based on the statistic view point, there is no difference in terms of cellular growth among the control group and the experimental group. However, the number of the alive spleen cells of the mice was apparently lower than that of the control group on the third day and the fourth day in the wake of oral administration of PCW-E. In another words, the cellular growth of the spleen of the experimental group is apparently weakened as compared to the control group. This means that PCW-E is cytotoxic.
  • the lanostane-containing low polarity portion has no inhibitive effect on cellular growth of the spleen.
  • the PCM portion has a promotive effect on cellular growth of the spleen.
  • the horranostane-containing high polarity portion (Rf ⁇ 0.1) has an inhibitive effect on cellular growth of the spleen.
  • the Poria extract of the present invention is devoid of the horranostane fraction (PCW-E). On the contrary, the Poria extract obtained by the prior art methods contains the PCW-E capable of inhibiting cellular growth of the spleen.
  • the potent component of the Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf is a lanostane-containing low polarity portion, which is capable of enhancing immunity of human body.
  • a silica gel thin layer chromatography and a silica gel column chromatography can be employed to separate the promotive components from the inhibitive components of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf.
  • the Poria extract obtained by the method of the present invention is devoid of the inhibitive components, which are explainedanostanes and high polar molecules contained in the high polarity portion, PCW-E. For this reason, the method of the present invention is superior to the prior art methods.
  • the animal experiments of the present invention are carried out by an oral administration of PCM-E and PCW-E to animals.
  • the administrations of PCM-E and PCW-E of the present invention take place in vivo other than in vitro. Because in vitro study of pharmaceutical compound on spleen cells dose not reflect actual effects of the pharmaceutical compound on cellular growth of the animal spleen in light of absence of interactions between cellular metabolism and the pharmaceutical compound. It is therefore readily apparent that the present invention is reliable and meaningful.
  • Poria extract and the purified compounds from the Poria extract by chromatography prepared according to the methods of the present invention were tested by various immunity response experiments listed in the following.
  • the PCM fraction of Poria extract and the lanostane compounds K1, K2, K3 and K4 purified therefrom in Example 1 exhibit immunity enhancement activities in immune cells (T cells/B cells) in the following immunity response tests, and, as shown in Table 2 to Table 10, K1, K2, K3 and K4 compounds are potent at dosage low than 2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg.
  • mice Female mice, 6-8 weeks old, were used throughout the experiment.
  • the animals were purchased from National Laboratory Animal Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • the mice were housed in the Individual Ventilation Cage System, which provided an environment of Specific Pyrogen-Free.
  • the facilities had 12-h day/night rhythm, 24-26° C. and 30-70% humidity in air.
  • Mice were fed autoclaved water and rodent chow, and the bedding was sterilized by autoclave also.
  • the feedstock purchased from animal center of National Taiwan University composed of crude proteins (>23.0%), crude fat (>4.5%), crude fiber ( ⁇ 6.0%), ash ( ⁇ 8.0%), added minerals ( ⁇ 3.0%) and water ( ⁇ 12%). After transport, the mice were allowed to rest for two weeks before the experiments were started.
  • the animals were divided into four groups and oral administration with 1 ml of PCM, ranging from 10, 40 to 80 mg/kg/day, for four days.
  • the dosage of oral administration had a range from 2.5, 5, 10 to 20 mg/kg/day, which were a quarter of the dosage used for PCM study.
  • the control group was the mice feeding with an equal volume of saline (0.85% of NaCl). Mice were sacrificed at day five, and both the serum and spleen cells were collected. The sera were subsequently used to measure the concentration of IgG, IgM and IgA.
  • the spleen cells were plated onto a 100 mm diameter culture plate and incubated at 37° C. for three hours.
  • the non-adherent cells containing T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and NK cells were collected and properly diluted as described in each assay.
  • the mouse to be sacrificed was cervical dislocated and sterilized with 70% ethanol.
  • the cardiac punctuation was performed first to withdraw the blood. After the haemagglutination, the blood sample was subjected to centrifugation and the serum was collect.
  • the peritoneum was opened to remove the spleen.
  • the fresh spleen was transferred to a culture plate containing 10 ml of RPMI-1640 culture medium.
  • the spleen was then ground over a fine mesh to release the spleen cells.
  • the spleen cells suspending in the medium were then removed and transferred to a 50-ml conical centrifuge tube. The tube was subjected to centrifugation at 1300 rpm for 10 min.
  • the supernatant was discarded and the pellet was re-suspended in 1 ml of cold RBC lysing buffer containing EDTA-NH 4 Cl.
  • the cells were incubated at room temperature for 10 min, followed by washing the cells three times with culture medium by centrifugation.
  • the spleen cells were plated onto a 100 mm diameter culture plate and incubated at 37° C. for three hours.
  • the non-adherent cells containing T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and NK cells were collected and properly diluted as described in each assay.
  • MTT assay is the method routinely used for estimating the viable cell number and viability of the cultured cells.
  • the basic principle is that the only mitochondria in a viable cells contain biologically activated oxido-reductive enzymes. The enzymes interact with MTT reagents to convert the chemical into a relatively insoluble blue crystal. The crystal is then solublized in an acidic isopropanol and the absorbence at 570 nm in each well was read using an ELISA reader (EL311, BioTek, VT).
  • the spleen cells suspended in a medium containing RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine, antibiotics and 1 ⁇ g/ml concanavalin A (Con A) were cultured in the 96-well flat-bottom plate (5 ⁇ 10 5 cells/100 ⁇ l/well) for 5 days. MTT assay was performed at day 3, 4 and 5. MTT tetrazolium (3-(4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltertrazolium bromide) (5 mg/ml in phosphate-buffered saline) (Sigma Chemical, St.
  • Leuis, Mo. was added to the spleen cells (20 ⁇ l MTT per 100 ⁇ l cells), and plates were incubated at 37° C. for 4 h. Acid-isopropanol (100 ⁇ l of 0.04 N HCL in isopropanol) was added to all wells and mixed completely to dissolve the dark blue crystals. After 20 minutes at room temperature to ensure that all crystals were dissolved, the plates were read on an EIA reader at 570 nm.
  • ELISA was performed in our study to measure the immunoglobulin concentration. Briefly, the spleen cells (5 ⁇ 10 5 cells/ml) were cultured in a medium containing RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine, antibiotics and 5 ⁇ g/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 ⁇ g/10 5 cells) for 5 days. LPS is a polyclonal activator of B lymphocyte. Culture spleen cell supernatants were collected at day 3, 4 and. 5. IgA, IgG and IgM concentrations were measured using a sandwich ELISA technique.
  • FBS fetal bovine serum
  • LPS lipopolysaccharide
  • a 96-well microtiter plate (Nunc-Immuno Plate, MaxiSorp, Nunc, Denmark) was precoated with 100 ng/well of capture antibodies at 4° C. overnight.
  • the capture antibody was a rabbit anti-mouse IgG+IgA+IgM antibody (Zymed Laboratory, CA).
  • the plate was washed with PBS-0.05% Tween 20 solution and blocked with PBS-1% gelatin. After the blocking, the properly diluted samples (1/10 5 diluted) and standard IgG ranged from 0.25 ⁇ g/ml to 0.039 ⁇ g/ml were added (100 ⁇ l/well). The plate was then incubated at 37° C. for 2 h.
  • HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (1:2,000 diluted; anti-whole IgG molecule; Zymed Laboratory, CA) was added (100 ⁇ l/well). After 1 h of incubation at 37° C., the color was developed using a substrate solution containing 0.1 M citrate buffer, pH 4.5, 0.03% H 2 O 2 and 0.1% of o-phenylenediamine. The absorbence at 490 nm in each well was read using an ELISA reader (EL311, BioTek, VT), and the data was analyzed using log-logit model.
  • IgM assay was similar to that for IgG assay, except that the samples were 1/10 4 diluted and standard IgM ranged from 1 ⁇ g/ml to 0.0156 ⁇ g/ml were added (100 ⁇ l/well).
  • the secondary antibody for the assay was HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgM (1:1,000 diluted; heavy chain-specific; Zymed Laboratory, CA).
  • IgA assay was similar to that for IgG assay, except that the samples were 1/10 4 diluted and standard IgA ranged from 1 ⁇ g/ml to 0.0156 ⁇ g/ml were added (100 ⁇ l/well).
  • the secondary antibody for the assay was HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgA (1:1000 diluted; Zymed Laboratory, CA).
  • the spleen cells (1 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml) were cultured in a medium containing RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine, antibiotics and 1 ⁇ g/ml concanavalin A (Con A) for 3 days.
  • Con A is one of the polyclonal activators for T lymphocyte.
  • Culture spleen cell supernatants were collected.
  • the IFN ⁇ and IL-10 concentrations were measured using a cytokine ELISA set (Cyto Set ELISA kit) purchased from R&D Systems (MN, USA).
  • Cyto Set ELISA was performed as follows: A 96-well microtiter plate (Nunc-Immuno Plate, MaxiSorp, Nunc, Denmark) was precoated with capture antibodies at 4° C. overnight. The capture antibody was a rat monoclonal antibody to mouse IL-10. The samples to be tested and standard IL-10 ranged from 500 pg/ml to 15.6 pg/ml were added (100 ⁇ l/well). The plate was then incubated at 37° C. for 20 min. At the end of incubation, the plate was washed five times, followed by adding the biotinylated goat anti IL-10 polyclonal antibody.
  • the color was developed by incubating the plate with a HRP-conjugated streptoavidin (Zymed, CA, USA), followed by a substrate solution containing hydrogen peroxide and tetramethylbenezidine (TMB). The reaction continued for 30 min at room temperature, and was stopped by adding 100 ⁇ l of 2N of sulfuric acid. The absorbence at 450 nm in each well was read using an ELISA reader (EL311, BioTek, Winooski, Vt.), and the data was analyzed using log-logit model.
  • HRP-conjugated streptoavidin Zymed, CA, USA
  • TMB tetramethylbenezidine
  • Cyto Set ELISA of IFN- ⁇ was similar to that of IL-10, except that the capture antibody was a rat monoclonal antibody to mouse IFN- ⁇ , and secondary antibody was biotinylated goat anti IFN- ⁇ polyclonal antibody.
  • CD3 pan-T marker
  • CD4 helper T cell maker
  • CD8 Cytotoxic T cell marker
  • CD3, CD4 and CD8 expressions were monitored using a CY-Chrome conjugated hamster anti-mouse CD3 antibody (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.), PE-conjugated hamster anti-mouse CD4 antibody (Becton Dikinson, San Jose, Calif.) and FITC-conjugated hamster anti-mouse CD8 antibody (Becton Dikinson, San Jose, Calif.), respectively.
  • CY-Chrome conjugated hamster anti-mouse CD3 antibody Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.
  • PE-conjugated hamster anti-mouse CD4 antibody Becton Dikinson, San Jose, Calif.
  • FITC-conjugated hamster anti-mouse CD8 antibody Becton Dikinson, San Jose, Calif.
  • the non-adherent spleen cells were washed three times with sterile cold PBS, followed by adjusting the cells to 1 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml. Each 1 ⁇ 10 6 cells were mixed with 1 ⁇ l of indicated fluorescence-conjugated antibody and incubated at room temperature in the dark for 15 min. After the incubation, the cells were washed with cold PBS and were pelleted by contrifugation at 200 ⁇ g for 10 min. The pellet was dispersed and mixed with 500 ⁇ l of 1.0% of paraformaldehyde. The percentage of CD3 + cells in splenic lymphocytes and the percentage of CD4 + 8 ⁇ and CD4 ⁇ 8 + cells in CD3 + cell population were analyzed in flow cytometry.
  • a LIVE/DEAD cell-mediated cytotoxicity kit (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.) was used for the assay. This two-color fluorescence assay allows direct assessment of cell-mediated cytotoxicity and yields cytotoxicity measurements that correlate well with 51 Cr release assay.
  • the target cell using in our assay system was YAC-1 cells (ATCC, TIB-160). Briefly, the exponentially growth YAC-1 cells were harvested and washed with complete culture medium (RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine and antibiotics).
  • the cells were adjusted to 1 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml and 20 ⁇ l of DiOC 18 (3,3′-diocatadecyloxacarbocyanine) were added for each ml of target cells. The cells were incubated at 37° C. for 20 min. The DiOC 18 reagent created a green fluorescence membrane stain on the target cells. The cells were then washed twice with PBS and suspended in complete culture medium at a concentration of 2 ⁇ 10 5 cells/ml. Non-adherent spleen cells (effector cells) were washed with Hank's balance salt solution for three times and suspended in complete culture medium at a concentration of 1 ⁇ 10 7 cells/ml.
  • DiOC 18 3,3′-diocatadecyloxacarbocyanine
  • the effector cells were then two-fold diluted to 5 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml and 2.5 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml.
  • the equal volume (e.g. 200 ⁇ l) of effector cells and target cells was mixed to make the final Effector:Target ratio (E:T ratio) to 50:1, 25:1 and 12.5:1, respectively.
  • the cell mixture was incubated at 37° C. for two hours, followed by adding 50 ⁇ l of propidium iodide.
  • the propidium iodide can penetrate into the cells with damaged plasma membranes and stain the nuclear with red fluorescence.
  • the cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 1000 ⁇ g for 30 seconds and incubated at room temperature for another 10 min.
  • the tube was tapped gently to dislodge the pellets and then vortexed to re-suspend completely.
  • the samples were ready for analyzing in the flow cytometry.
  • the dead target cells had coincident green-membrane and red-nuclear staining.
  • the live target cells were green on the membrane.
  • the dead effector cells had only red-nucleus staining.
  • mice were divided into four groups and oral administration with 1 ml of PCM-K1, ranging from 2.5 mg/kg/day to 20 mg/kg/day for four consecutive days.
  • the control group was composed of mice injected with an equal volume of saline (0.85% of NaCl). The animals were i.p. injected with 2.5 ml of 10% proteose peptone at day two and sacrificed by cervical dislocation at day five.
  • the peritoneal cavity was injected with 2 ml of the divalent cation-free, serum-free DMEM. The cavity was then gently massaged for 30 second, and the peritoneal fluid together with medium and peritoneal exudate cells were withdrew using a 25 G syringe. The cells were washed with complete DMEM culture medium and adjusted to 1 ⁇ 10 7 cells/ml. The cells were incubated on ice for 10 min, followed by mixing 1 ⁇ 10 6 cells with 5 ⁇ 1 06 fluorescent labeled particles. The particles for phagocytosis assay were fluorescein-laeled Escherichia coli (K-12 strain) BioParticles (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.).
  • the cells were divided into experimental group and control group.
  • the experimental group was incubated for 15 min at 37° C., followed by adding 100 ⁇ 11 of ice cold Quenching solution (1.25 mg/ml trypan blue).
  • the control group was incubated at 0° C., instead.
  • the cells from both groups were washed twice with PBS and pelleted by centrifugation at 150 ⁇ g for 5 min.
  • the contaminated erythrocytes were removed by adding ACK lysing solution.
  • the cells were re-pelleted by centrifugation at 150 ⁇ g for 5 min, and the pellet was dispersed and mixed with 500 ⁇ l of 1.0% of paraformaldehyde.
  • the amount of particles been phagocytized by the peritoneal macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry.
  • mice orally treated with 40 mg/kg/day of PCM significantly elevated the serum level of IgG.
  • mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day or higher dose of PCM-K3 showed a significant reduction in the serum level of IgG.
  • mice treated with 40 mg/kg/day of PCM 5 mg/kg/day had a significant reduction in IgA secretion in comparison with control group.
  • mice treated with the purified components showed a rather different result.
  • Oral administration of 10 mg/kg/day or higher dose of PCM-K1 resulted in an increase in IgA secretion by spleen cells in vitro at day 3 and day 5.
  • PCM-K3 significantly suppressed the IgA secretion.
  • Result from this experiment suggested that oral administration of PCM had an opposite effect between serum level of IgA and the secretion of IgA by spleen cells.
  • the purified components such as PCM-K1, K2 or K4 in general did increase the potential of spleen B cells to secret IgA.
  • T H 1-type cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon- ⁇ (IFN- ⁇ ) induces the cellular immune response.
  • T H 2-type cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6), stimulates the B lymphocyte-mediated humoral immune response.
  • IL-2 interleukin-2
  • IFN- ⁇ interferon- ⁇
  • T H 2-type cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates the B lymphocyte-mediated humoral immune response.
  • mice were fed with 10 mg and 80 mg/kg/day of PCM, 2.5 mg/kg/day or higher dose of PCM-K1, 2.5 mg/kg/day or higher dose of PCM-K2, 5 mg and 10 mg/kg/day of PCM-K3, and 20 mg/kg/day of PCM-K4, respectively.
  • the IFN ⁇ secretion by ConA-stimulated splenic T cells was significantly augmented.
  • the spleen cells isolated from the mice treated with 40 mg/kg/day or higher dose had no effect on IL-10 secretion.
  • PCM was able to positively regulate T H 1-type cytokine at relatively low dose but it failed to regulate Th2-type cytokine secretion.
  • the purified components such as PCM-K1 and -K2 were able to augment both T H 1-type and T H 2-type cytokines secreted.
  • CD4 + 8 ⁇ T-cells are predominantly helper T-cells (T H ), and CD4 ⁇ 8 + T-cells are mainly cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL).
  • CTL cytotoxic T-lymphocytes
  • NK cells play a pivotal role in innate immunity. NK cells non-specifically kill the tumor cells (transformed cells) and viral infected cells. Non-adherent spleen cells isolated from PCM-treated mice were immediately used for NK-mediated cytotoxicity assay. Result indicated that PCM induced an increase in NK-mediated cytotoxicity at 10 mg/kg/day (Table 9). When the dose of PCM was increased, the NK cell activity returned to the basal level. The activation of NK cells is mainly stimulated by Th1-type cytokines. Therefore, this finding correlated well with the augmented effect of PCM on IFN- ⁇ secretion.
  • Phagocytic cells are involved in the first line defense against invading pathogens.
  • the predominant phagocytic cells in innate immunity are neutrophils and macrophages.
  • the peritoneal exudated macrophages were fed with the fluorescent-labeled E. coli , and assayed for the phagocytic activity of elicited macrophages.
  • An average 20.88% of macrophages isolated from control group showed phagocytic activity.

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US20090318399A1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2009-12-24 Sinphar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Pharmaceutical composition and extract of poria for treating a disease induced from immune disorder
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US20110053899A1 (en) * 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Sinphar Tian-Li Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Hangzhou) Use of lanostane and poria extract in treating diabetes
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US9910051B2 (en) 2006-10-27 2018-03-06 Life Technologies Corporation Fluorogenic pH sensitive dyes and their method of use
US20090247496A1 (en) * 2008-03-31 2009-10-01 Sinphar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Pharmaceutical composition and extract of poria for enhancing uptake of nutrients
US9757392B2 (en) * 2008-03-31 2017-09-12 Sinphar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Pharmaceutical composition and extract of Poria for enhancing uptake of nutrients
WO2009124420A1 (zh) 2008-04-11 2009-10-15 杏辉天力（杭州）药业有限公司 促进营养素被吸收的医药组合物及茯苓萃取物
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US20090318399A1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2009-12-24 Sinphar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Pharmaceutical composition and extract of poria for treating a disease induced from immune disorder
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US20100279992A1 (en) * 2009-05-02 2010-11-04 Sinphar Tian-Li Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Hangzhou) Use of lanostane and poria extract in treating cachexia
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