Effect of Ephedra Sinica-Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Herbal Compatibility on the Proliferation of Splenocytes and Th1/Th2 Balance in Mice

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Ephedra sinica-Glycyrrhiza uralensis herbal compatibility on the proliferation of splenocytes and the balance of Th1/Th2 under the stimulation of concanavalin A(ConA)， and explore its effect on immune function. METHODS Effect of different concentration of couplet medicines and monomers on splenic lymphocyte proliferation in mice was determined by MTT assay; the Th1/Th2 balance model of lymphocyte was established by ConA (5 mg/L); PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of IFN-γ，T-bet，IL-4 and GATA3 in splenic lymphocytes of mice under ConA stimulation; ELISA was used to detect the protein expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ. RESULTS 25-100 mg/L of couplet medicines showed proliferative activities of splenocytes in both rest state and ConA-induced state; ephedrine and pseudoephedrine at a dose of 0.1-10 mg/L showed a proliferative effect in both rest state and ConA-induced state; glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhizin showed no proliferative effect on splenocytes. Ephedra sinica-Glycyrrhiza uralensis herbal compatibility significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-4 and GATA3 (P<0.01)， while displayed no effect on the mRNA expression of IFN-γ and T-bet. Ephedrine significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of IFN-γ and T-bet (P<0.01)， but had no effect on the mRNA expression of IL-4 and GATA3; pseudoephedrine inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-4， GATA3， IFN-γ and T-bet (P<0.01); glycyrrhizic acid inhibited the expression of mRNA IL-4 and GATA3 (P<0.01)， but up-regulated the expression of IFN-γ and T-bet (P<0.01); glycyrrhizin showed no effect on Th1/Th2 balance in splenic lymphocytes. Couplet medicine and its monomers all inhibited the level of IL-4 protein. Couplet medicine and glycyrrhizin inhibited the level of IFN-γ; ephedrine， pseudoephedrine and glycyrrhizic acid increased the level of IFN-γ， and glycyrrhizic acid showed the most obvious effect (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Couplet medicine and its monomer can promote proliferation of spleen cells on rest state and ConA-induced splenocytes， and improve the immune function through the regulation of Th1/Th2 balance.