The Effects of Rehmannia Glutinosa Polysaccharide on Immune Function of Mice

[Objective] To study the effects of Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide (RGP) on immune function of mice. [Method] Mice divided into four groups. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) models induced by Sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were applied for evaluation of the cellular immune function of mice. Except the control group, the mice were fed with the extract of RGP at the Low, Middle and High doses. The experiment period was 25 days. The swelling of mouse toes were measured, and the spleen and thymus were harvested to determine the organ index. Neutral red assay was performed to measure the peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis and XTT assay was used to detect the concanavalin (ConA) - induced splenic lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. [Results] RGP ameliorated the swelling of mouse toes, and the indexes of the thymus and spleen. Dose-dependently elevated the lymphocyte proliferation responses and enhanced the peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis. [Conclusion] RGP plays a regulatory role in immune function of the mice by increasing the indexes of immune organs and ameliorating the swelling of mouse toes, increasing the lymphocyte proliferation responses and enhanced peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis.