Astragalus
From NKcells.info
Introduction
Extracts from the chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus appear to have an anti-cancer effect and in vitro experiments demonstrated an increase of NK cell activity upon additional activation using IL-2 (Wang, 1992 [1]; Chu, 1994 [2]). In contrast to these results, Yoshida et al. (1997, [3]) published that Astragalus had no effect on natural killer cells but on B cells. Further research will be required to resolve these constrasting statements.
It may be assumed that Astragalus increases responsiveness of NK cells to IL-2 rather than directly activating NK cells.
References
Wang Y, Qian XJ, Hadley HR, Lau BH.
Phytochemicals potentiate interleukin-2 generated lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity against murine renal cell carcinoma.
Mol Biother. 1992 Sep;4(3):143-6. PMID: 1445669
Chu DT, Lin JR, Wong W.
The in vitro potentiation of LAK cell cytotoxicity in cancer and aids patients induced by F3--a fractionated extract of Astragalus membranaceus
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1994 May;16(3):167-71. Chinese. PMID: 7956691
Yoshida Y, Wang MQ, Liu JN, Shan BE, Yamashita U.
Immunomodulating activity of Chinese medicinal herbs and Oldenlandia diffusa in particular.
Int J Immunopharmacol. 1997 Jul;19(7):359-70. PMID: 9568540
