Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and ST25 on blood cell composition and cytokine levels in rats

中脘(중완)(CV12) 및 천추(天樞)(ST25) 산양산삼약침 처치가 흰쥐의 혈액성상 및 싸이토카인에 미치는 영향

Objectives : To investigate whether cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and/or ST25 has any immune-enhancing effect in normal rats. Methods : Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and/or ST25 on blood cell counts, cell composition, cytokine and plasma protein levels were investigated in normal rats. Results : Red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin levels significantly increased in cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups compared with those of the normal group. There was, however, no significant difference in white blood cell (WBC) count and WBC differential count between the normal group and the pharmacopuncture groups. Cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups had significantly higher levels of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) than the normal group while no significant difference between groups was found in interleukin-$1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ level. Total protein and albumin levels were not different between groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and/or ST25 may have no immune-enhancing effect in normal rats.