Antigenicity studies of the aqueous extract of red ginseng in guinea pigs

The antigenicity of the aqueous extract of red ginseng (ARG) was evaluated using the following assay procedures: 1. active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) in guinea pigs, 2. active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA) in guinea pigs, 3. passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in guinea pigs with serum from guinea pigs sensitized with ARG and 4. passive hemagglutination (PHA) with serum from guinea pigs sensitized with ARG. 1. ASA: No anaphylaxis reaction was observed in any of the senstized guinea pigs by elicitation with ARG. 2. ACA: No skin reaction was observed in sensitized guinea pigs after intradermal injection of ARG. 3. PCA in guinea pigs: PCA titer of sera from all the sensitized animals was less than 10 in elicitation with ARG. 4. PHA reaction: When erythrocytes coated with challenge antigen were added to sensitized sera, the hemagglutination titer was less than 1. These results suggest that ARG has no antigenicity under the conditions used. And the dose levels of ARG employed in the present experiment were confirmed not to suppress immune reactions.