Protective Effect of Ginseng Polysaccharides on Influenza Viral Infection

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Dae-Goon Yoo, Emory University; Min-Chul Kim, Emory University; Min-Kyung Park, Georgia State University; Kyoung-Mi Park, Emory University; Fu-Shi Quan, Kyung Hee University; Jae-Min Song, Georgia State University; Jae Joon Wee, Korea Ginseng Corporation; Baozhong Wang, Emory University; Young-Keol Cho, University of Ulsan; Richard Compans, Emory University; Sang-Moo Kang, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-03-19
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Yoo et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033678
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLoS ONE
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: e33678
• End Page: e33678
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases (NIAID) grant AI0680003 (RWC), the Korean Society of Ginseng (SMK), and NIH/NIAID grants AI093772 (SMK) and AI087782 (SMK).; No additional external funding received for this study.
• Keywords: IMMUNOMODULATOR; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; ACIDIC POLYSACCHARIDE; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Science & Technology; TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR; GINSAN; PANAX-GINSENG; IMMUNIZATION; CELLS; Multidisciplinary Sciences; APOPTOSIS; CYTOKINES; VIRUS INFECTION
• Research Categories: Biology, Microbiology; Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

Ginseng polysaccharide has been known to have multiple immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether Panax ginseng polysaccharide (GP) would have a preventive effect on influenza infection. Administration of mice with GP prior to infection was found to confer a survival benefit against infection with H1N1 (A/PR/8/34) and H3N2 (A/Philippines/82) influenza viruses. Mice infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus suspended in GP solution showed moderately enhanced survival rates and lower levels of lung viral titers and the inflammatory cytokine (IL-6). Daily treatment of vaccinated mice with GP improved their survival against heterosubtypic lethal challenge. This study demonstrates the first evidence that GP can be used as a remedy against influenza viral infection.