The Immune-Stimulating and Anti-Diabetic Effects of <i>Allium hookeri</i> Leaves Grown in a Plant Factory with Artificial Lights in Immunosuppressed Obese C57BL/6 Mice

oleh: Jieun Jung, Ji-Su Kim, Un-Yul Jeong, Ui-Jin Bae, Mina Kim, Shin-Young Park, In-Guk Hwang, Jeong-Wook Heo, Chang-Ki Shim, Jun-Sang Ham, Sung-Hyen Lee

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

Deskripsi

We investigated the immune-stimulating and anti-diabetic effects of <i>Allium hookeri</i> leaves grown in a plant factory with artificial lights. The immunomodulatory effects of <i>A. hookeri</i> leaves’ ethanol extracts were evaluated with immune-related hematological factors in blood, the proliferation of splenocytes, NK cell activity, IgG and cytokine levels, and their mechanisms in immunosuppressed obese mice. Anti-diabetic effects were determined by the inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro and fasting blood glucose levels and biochemical factors in the serum of immunosuppressed obese mice. <i>A. hookeri</i> leaf extracts increased WBC and LYM counts, the proliferation of splenocytes, and serum IgG and IL-1β concentrations compared to those of the NC group, which was used as a negative control. <i>A. hookeri</i> leaf extracts also improved serum HDL levels while they decreased the activities of digestive enzymes, fasting blood glucose, and biochemical factors (ALT, AST, T-Chol, TG, LDL, and GLU). The expressions of IL-1β, JNK, c-Jun, p65, and iNOS in the thymus of immunosuppressed mice were activated by the treatment of <i>A. hookeri</i> leaf extracts. The results suggest that <i>A. hookeri</i> leaves grown in a plant factory with artificial lights also have immune-stimulatory and anti-diabetic effects and can be used as novel functional supplements to control related diseases and to improve public health.