Development of biologically active compounds from edible plant sources - XXV. Immunostimulating effect of edible plant extracts

In this study, the 163 edible plants that are permitted as foods by the Korea Food and Drug Administration, were extracted in methanol. Following extration, their macrophage munostimulating effects (MIE) were examined using a macrophage from BALB/c mice at four different concentrations of plant extract, such as 10 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 500 μg/ mL, and 1,000 μg/mL, in vitro. Forty-two samples significantly showed MIEs. Among them, 20 samples had increased MIEs at higher than 10%, as compared to the negative control group. Nineteen samples had increased MIEs at two of the plantextract concentrations, and 3 samples [Allium schoenoprasmum (chive), Aralia elata (fatsia), Capsosiphon fulvescens (seaweed fulvescens)] had increased MIEs at three of the concentration conditions. In particular, Dioscorea batatas (yam) showed MIEs at all concentrations, as well as slightly higher MIEs as compared to the positive controlgroup. Therefore, Dioscorea batatas was evaluated to be an excellent MIE.