In this study we investigated the immune effects of oral administration of anionic macromolecules extracted from Codium fragile (CFAM) and red ginseng extract mixture on the peritoneal macrophage cells in immune-suppressed mice. Cyclophosphamide (CY) induces the immune-suppressed condition. CY-treated mice were orally fed with different concentrations of CFAM supplemented with red ginseng extract and the peritoneal macrophages collected. CY treatment significantly decreased the immune activities of peritoneal macrophages, compared to the normal mice. The administration of CFAM mixed with red ginseng extract significantly boosted the viability of macrophage cells and nitric oxide production of peritoneal macrophages. Further, the oral administration of CFAM mixed with red ginseng extract up-regulated the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and TLR-4 as well as cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ more than the red ginseng-treated group. This study showed that CFAM enhanced the immune activity of red ginseng extract in the peritoneal macrophage cells of immune-suppressed mice. Furthermore, CFAM might be used as a co-stimulant of red ginseng extract through the regulation of macrophage cells for the enhancement of human health and immunity.
Keywords: Anionic macromolecule; Codium fragile; co-immunomodulatory; cyclophosphamide; ginseng.