US EPA

1024877 

Journal Article 

Immunomodulatory effect of fu-fang-tai-pan-pian, a traditional Chinese tonic medicine 

Boissonneault, GA; Mohapatra, S; Cai, H 

1994 

1 

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine
ISSN: 0192-415X 

22 

2 

147-153 

English 

7992814 

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Fu-Fang-Tai-Pan-Pian on responsiveness of mouse spleen leukocytes to the mitogens concanavalin A (con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Aqueous and chloroform/methanol extracts of the drug were prepared and added to mitogen-stimulated cultures at doses ranging from 0.625% to 20% by volume. The aqueous extract depressed responsiveness to all mitogens at all doses tested, and was significantly more potent in this regard than the organic extract. The organic extract depressed responsiveness at low dilutions; however it significantly stimulated responsiveness to PHA and LPS, but not to con A, at dilutions of 2.5% or less. The relative ability of compounds partitioning into aqueous and organic extracts of the medicinal mixture to both stimulate and depress the ability of lymphocytes to proliferate may provide insight into the mechanism of action of this and related medicines.