[Immunomodulatory action of the total saponin of Gynostemma pentaphylla].

The specimen of the total saponin for this experimental study was extracted from Gynostemma pentaphylla growing in Suining county in Hunan province. Weight of immune organs, content of anti-SRBC hemolysin, rate of special Ea-RFC formation and percentage of NK cell activity had been employed for the study as experimental indices, both the normal healthy mice and the mice with immunity impairment due to Cyclophosphamide (Cy) management as experimental models. The results of the study exhibited: (1) The total saponin of Gynostemma pentaphylla could markedly act against the immunity inhibition due to Cy management in the experimental animals, showing a variant recovery in mice treated by Cy in weight of the immune organs, content of hemolysin, forming rate of Ea-RFC and unequivocally elevating NK cell activity, by significant difference in comparison with the Cy control groups (P less than 0.05-0.01). (2) The total saponin showed a definite of bidirective immunomodulatory action in normal healthy mice, recovering the immune indices to normal value from either originally lower or higher than the medium figure, by significant difference in comparison with the Cy control groups (P less than 0.05-0.01). (3) The total saponin had actions to prevent from fatigue and to tolerate hypoxia under usual atmospheric pressure. The above description indicates that the total saponin of Gynostemma pentaphylla is a better immunomodulator, seems to be like the actions of some Chinese drugs, for example, Panax ginseng, Astragalus membranaceus etc.