Immunostimulating activity of Phellinus linteus extracts to B-lymphocyte

Abstract

hellinus linteus was examined on its immunostimulating activities using anin vitro immunization and plaque forming cell assay. When lymphocytes were exposed to the extract ofPhellinus linteus, the number of antibody forming cell was increased. Inin vitro plaque forming cell assay, the immunostimulating effect was about 4.8 and 5.0 times of unimmunized control in polyclonal and T-independent antibody response, respectively. Especially,Phellinus linteus significantly increased the antigenicity of TNP-LPS used as T-independent antigen. ButPhellinus linteus did not show a mitogenic effect on B-lymphocytes. These results suggest that immunostimulating activity ofPhillinus linteus might be associated with a funtional stimulation of B-lymphocyte involved in humoral immune responses.