- 著者
- Hiroshi UEDA Atsuko TAKEUCHI Tadayuki WAKO
- 出版者
- Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
- 雑誌
- Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry (ISSN:09168451)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.77, no.9, pp.1809-1813, 2013-09-23 (Released:2013-09-23)
- 参考文献数
- 23
- 被引用文献数
- 11
Bunching onion [Allium fistulosum L. (Liliaceae)] secretes mucus in the cavities of its green leaves. The effects of the mucus, which is consumed as food, were examined. The mucus augmented the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 from RAW 264 cells and of interleukin (IL)-12 from J774.1 cells; however, extracts from green leaves and white sheaths did not. An oral administration of this mucus to mice augmented the immune functions of peritoneal cells by increasing TNF-α and IL-12 production and phagocytosis. It also augmented interferon (IFN)-γ production from spleen cells and natural killer (NK) activity. These results suggest that an oral administration of the A. fistulosum mucus can enhance natural immunity.