Onion peel water extracts enhance immune status in forced swimming rat model.
10.5625/lar.2014.30.4.161
- Author:
Hyun A LEE
1
;
Sang Jun HAN
;
Sunhwa HONG
;
Dong Woo KIM
;
Gi Wook OH
;
Okjin KIM
Author Information
1. Center for Animal Resources Development, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea. kimoj@wku.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Allium cepa;
onion peel;
water extract;
immune stimulation;
cytokines
- MeSH:
Administration, Oral;
Animals;
Cytokines;
Diet;
Flavonoids;
Humans;
Interferons;
Interleukin-12;
Interleukins;
Lymphocyte Count;
Male;
Models, Animal*;
Onions*;
Organ Size;
Physical Exertion;
Quercetin;
Rats;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Spleen;
Swimming*;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha;
Water*
- From:Laboratory Animal Research
2014;30(4):161-168
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Onion peel contains a high concentration of quercetin and other flavonoids. In this study, the potential immune-enhancing effects of an onion peel water extract (OPE) supplement were investigated by the rat forced swimming test. OPE was prepared using hot water. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a pellet diet for 1 week and were then randomly divided into six groups: normal control (NC), forced swimming control (FSC), positive control (quercetin 20 mg/kg), and three groups administered 4, 20, or 100 mg/kg of OPE. Oral drug administration was conducted daily for 4 weeks. All rats, except those of NC group, were forced to swim in water and were considered exhausted when they failed to rise to the water surface to breathe within a 7-s period. Blood lymphocyte counts, immune organ weights, histopathological analysis, and serum interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-12 levels were determined. OPE-treated rats consumed more food and had an increased thymic cortex to medulla ratio than that observed in FSC group rats (P<0.05). The area of the white pulp in the spleens of OPE-treated group rats was increased compared with that in FSC group rats (P<0.05). Furthermore, blood lymphocyte numbers and IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-12 concentrations were significantly higher in OPE-fed groups than in FSC group (P<0.05). These results suggest that an OPE supplement can improve the immune status by increasing the number of immune-related cells and specific cytokine levels.
