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Session 3: Preclinical studies of herbal and traditional medicine

Immunomodulatory effect of Hua-Khao-Yen-Nua and Hua-Khao-

Yen-Tai

,
Sumalee Panthong*, Srisopa Ruangnoo**, Arunporn Itharat*****
*Student of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University
**Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University
***Center of Excellence on Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Research (CEATMR), Thammasat
University

Background and Rationale: The immune system is the important system that helps the
body fight against foreign substances. Many plants were investigated for immunomodulatory
activity and later developed into immunomodulatory agents or health products. Hua-Khao-
Yen-Nua (Smilax corbularia Kunth) and Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai (Dioscorea membranacea Pierre)
have been used as ingredients in traditional remedies for the treatment of cancer, inflamma-
tion and lymphopathy by Thai traditional doctors. Moreover, previous studies showed that
they have anti-cancer, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there has not
yet been a report on the immunomodulatory activity of these herbs.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate immunomodulatory effect of
Hua-Khao-Yen-Nua (Smilax corbularia Kunth) and Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai (Dioscorea membranacea
Pierre) that might be useful for treatment cancer and AIDS.
Methods: The ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration in 95% ethanol. For the
water extracts, plant powder was boiled with water. Natural killer cells activity and lympho-
cyte proliferation activity were performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Lympho-
cyte proliferation was investigated by 3-H-thymidine uptake assay, while natural killer cells
activity was performed by chromium release assay.
Results: The ethanolic extract of Hua-Khao-Yen-Nua showed significantly increased NK
cells activity at a concentration of 10 ng/ml. However, it had no significant effect on lympho-
cyte proliferation. For Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai, its aqueous extract at all concentrations signifi-
cantly stimulated natural killer cells activity. Moreover, the aqueous extract of Hua-Khao-Yen-
Nua significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation at the concentrations of 1 ng/ml-10 μg/
ml.
Conclusion: These results showed that the water extract of Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai showed
a high potency of immunomodulatory effect. However, animal study of immunomodulatory
activity of Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai should be performed to determine if it has a potential to be
further developed into an immunomodulatory agent.
Key words: Smilax corbularia Kunth, Dioscorea membranacea Pierre, immunomodulatory
effect, Hua-Khao-Yen-Nua, Hua-Khao-Yen-Tai