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Fu-Ling, a widely used Chinese herbal drug, showed anti-tumor
and immunoregulatory activities in recent research reports. In
the present study, the possible effects of Fu-Ling on the IL-1
beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta secretion by human peripheral
monocytes were investigated. IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were
the mutifunctional cytokines which regulated the immune response,
stimulated hematopoiesis and augmented inflammatory response. TGF
-beta, by contrast, suppressed certain immune functions including
macrophage activation, cytokine-secretion and inflammatory
response in general. Data obtaining from this study suggested
that 50% hot ethanol extract of Fu-Ling significantly enhanced IL
-1beta secretion ( P＜0.05 ) by monocytes within 24 hrs under in
vitro condition. Under the same experimental condition, IL-6 and
TNF-alpha secretion were significantly enhanced within 3 hrs ( P
＜0.05 ), but TGF-beta secretion was significantly suppressed
within 3 hrs. The results implied that Fu-Ling might boost rather
than suppress the immune functions. The active ingredients in Fu-
Ling extract were partially purified using a reverse-phase
chromatography on the basis of their diversity in the
hydrophobicity. The ingredient(s) that enhanced TNF-alpha and
suppressed TGF-beta secretion was localized at peak V and peak VI
( relatively high-hydrophobicity ). The ingredient(s) that
enhanced IL-6 secretion was eluted in peak II to VI and the
ingredient(s) that enhanced IL-1 secretion was separated in all
six peaks. The ingredients in peak V and VI were futher analyzed
by TLC and HPLC.The results suggested that the major
ingredient(s) in peak V and VI might be an ergosterol-like
compound. Finally, the experimental data suggested that the Fu-
Ling extract might antagonize the immunosuppressive effect of
Dexamethasone.
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