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Abstract
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Natural products such as β-glucan and herbal essences have been found to enhance immune functions. The aims of this study were to purify β-glucan from the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to investigate its conjugate effect with Zataria multiflora essence on oxidative burst in BALB/c mice. After preparing the cell walls from the yeast, β-glucan was extracted from wall by alkaline-acid treatment (glucan-S1). This preparation contained protein and mannan, which were removed by DEAE sephacel chromatography (glucan-S2) and con-A sepharose chromatography (glucan-S3), respectively. Glucan-S3, Z. multiflora essence, and their conjugate were injected into BALB/c mice intraperitoneally. Blood was collected at days 4 and 7 after injection and oxidative burst was assayed by chemiluminescence method. The results showed that intraperitoneally administration of glucan-S3, Z. multiflora essence and their conjugate significantly increased oxidative burst of neutrophils both at days 4 and 7 when compared to control group (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the complex of β-glucan and Z. multiflora essence can be used as adjuvant agents to stimulate immune functions in immunocompromised subjects.
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