Ginseng Has Potential for Cystic Fibrosis
Natural Medicines Retailer
July, 2000
Ginseng may help the lungs of cystic fibrosis
patients,
according to a recent Danish study.
Researchers infected mice with P. aeroguinosa bacteria
in the lungs, then injected them with either a ginseng or inactive saline
solution, once a day for a week. The animals treated with ginseng cleared
the bacteria from their lungs much faster and experienced an improvement
in their lung condition. In addition, mice treated with ginseng also
survived considerably longer than mice treated with saline.
Researchers found the mice treated with ginseng had
increased levels of particular cytokines associated with cell-mediated
immunity and decreased levels of cytokines associated with humoral (or
antibody-mediated) immunity.
Cystic fibrosis patients usually have an antibody
immune response, which leads to deposits of immune complexes in the lungs
and causes lung damage.
Dr. Zhijun Song of the University Hospital of
Copenhagen shared his study's findings at the American Society for
Microbiology meeting in late May.
|
