Immunostimulatory Activity of a Mixture of <i>Platycodon grandiflorum</i>, <i>Pyrus serotine</i>, <i>Chaenomeles sinensis</i>, and <i>Raphanus sativus</i> in RAW264.7 Macrophages

oleh: Weerawan Rod-in, Minji Kim, A-yeong Jang, Yu Suk Nam, Tae Young Yoo, Woo Jung Park

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-10-01

Deskripsi

In this study, a mixture of <i>Platycodon grandiflorum</i>, <i>Pyrus serotina</i>, <i>Chaenomeles sinensis</i>, and <i>Raphanus sativus</i> (PPCRE) was investigated for their immuno-enhancing effects, as well as the molecular mechanism of PPCRE in RAW264.7 cells. PPCRE dramatically increased nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>) generation depending on the concentration while exhibiting no cytotoxicity. PPCRE markedly upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of immune-related cytotoxic factors such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as well as the mRNA level of <i>IL-4</i>. PPCRE increased the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway by upregulating the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), stress-activated protein kinase/Jun N-terminal-kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38. Furthermore, PPCRE considerably activated the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway by increasing phosphorylation of NF-κB-p65. PPCRE-stimulated RAW264.7 cells increased macrophage phagocytic capacity. In conclusion, our study found that PPCRE improved immune function by modulating inflammatory mediators and regulating the MAPK and NF-κB pathway of signaling in macrophages.