Immunomodulatory Properties of Plants and Mushrooms

Jan Martel; Yun-Fei Ko; David M Ojcius; Chia-Chen Lu; Chih-Jung Chang; Chuan-Sheng Lin; Hsin-Chih Lai; John D Young

doi:10.1016/j.tips.2017.07.006

Immunomodulatory Properties of Plants and Mushrooms

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2017 Nov;38(11):967-981. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.07.006. Epub 2017 Aug 30.

Authors

Jan Martel¹, Yun-Fei Ko², David M Ojcius³, Chia-Chen Lu⁴, Chih-Jung Chang⁵, Chuan-Sheng Lin⁵, Hsin-Chih Lai⁶, John D Young⁷

Affiliations

¹ Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
² Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei, Taiwan; Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
³ Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Respiratory Therapy, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
⁵ Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁶ Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Health Industry and Technology, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁷ Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei, Taiwan; Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: jdyoung@mail.cgu.edu.tw.

PMID: 28863984
DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.07.006

Abstract

Plants and mushrooms are used for medicinal purposes and the screening of molecules possessing biological activities. A single plant or mushroom may produce both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on immune cells, depending on experimental conditions, but the reason behind this dichotomy remains obscure. We present here a large body of experimental data showing that water extracts of plants and mushrooms usually activate immune cells, whereas ethanol extracts inhibit immune cells. The mode of extraction of plants and mushrooms may thus determine the effects produced on immune cells, possibly due to differential solubility and potency of stimulatory and inhibitory compounds. We also examine the possibility of using such plant and mushroom extracts to treat immune system disorders.

Keywords: herbal medicine; hydrophilicity; hydrophobicity; medicinal mushrooms; traditional Chinese medicine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Agaricales / chemistry*
Agaricales / immunology
Animals
Humans
Immunologic Factors / isolation & purification
Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
Plant Extracts / immunology
Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
Plants / chemistry*
Plants / immunology

Substances

Immunologic Factors
Plant Extracts