| Product News Archives
Ginseng has potential for cystic fibrosis
Researchers infected mice with P. aeroguinosa bacteria in
the lungs, then injected them with either a ginseng or inactive
saline solution, once a day for a week. The animals treated
with ginseng cleared the bacteria from their lungs much faster
and experienced an improvement in their lung condition. In
addition, mice treated with ginseng also survived considerably
longer than mice treated with saline.
Researchers found the mice treated with ginseng had
increased levels of particular cytokines associated with
cell-mediated immunity and decreased levels of cytokines
associated with humoral (or antibody-mediated) immunity.
Cystic fibrosis patients usually have an antibody immune
response, which leads to deposits of immune complexes in the
lungs and causes lung damage.
Dr. Zhijun Song of the University Hospital of Copenhagen
shared his study’s findings at the American Society for
Microbiology meeting in late May.
[return to news]
|