Effects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patients.

Spirulina represents a blue-green alga that is widely produced and commercialized as a dietary supplement for modulating immune functions, as well as ameliorating a variety of diseases. We have previously shown that the in vitro culture of Spirulina with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) modulated the production of cytokines. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement (Earthrise Nutritionals, Inc., Irvine, CA) on patients with allergic rhinitis by assessing the production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and IL-2] critical in regulating immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy. In a randomized double-blinded crossover study versus placebo, allergic individuals were fed daily with either placebo or Spirulina, at 1,000 mg or 2,000 mg, for 12 weeks. PBMCs isolated before and after the Spirulina feeding were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) prior to determining the levels of cytokine from cell culture supernatants. Although Spirulina seemed to be ineffective at modulating the secretion of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-2), we discovered that Spirulina, administered at 2,000 mg/day, significantly reduced IL-4 levels by 32% from PHA-stimulated cells. These results indicate that Spirulina can modulate the Th profile in patients with allergic rhinitis by suppressing the differentiation of Th2 cells mediated, in part, by inhibiting the production of IL-4. To our knowledge, this is the first human feeding study that demonstrates the protective effects of Spirulina towards allergic rhinitis.

Effect of cocoa flavanols and their related oligomers on the secretion of interleukin-5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

We previously showed that flavanols and their related oligomers (FLO) isolated from cocoa can have immunomodulatory effects on production of the cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-2, and IL-4. In the present study, we examined whether selected FLO fractions isolated from cocoa (monomer through decamer) modulate IL-5 protein secretion from resting and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Although FLO fractions were unstimulatory for IL-5 secretion in resting cells, PHA-induced IL-5 release from PBMC was markedly affected by certain FLO fractions. The monomeric and small oligomeric (dimer and trimer) fractions enhanced PHA stimulation by 50%, 54%, and 43%, respectively. In contrast, the larger oligomeric fractions (hexamer through decamer) inhibited IL-5 release in the range of 18% to 39%; the tetramer and pentamer showed intermediate effects. The increment in IL-5 suggests that FLO may preferentially stimulate immunoglobulin A. We suggest that in the oral cavity this could result in reduction in the risk for dental caries and periodontal disease. This work offers additional data for consideration of the health benefits of dietary FLO from a variety of foods, including those benefits associated specifically with consumption of some cocoas and chocolates.

Quantitative determination of ginsenosides by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

An HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantitative determination of ginsenosides, which are the marker compounds for herbal products containing Panax ginseng (Korean or Chinese ginseng) and P. quinquefolius (American ginseng). Samples were extracted with BondElut C18 HF extraction columns and the concentrations of seven major ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and Rg1) were determined by reversed-phase HPLC-MS/MS employing a quadrupole-ion trap mass spectrometer. Both positive and negative electrospray ionisation techniques were evaluated. Positive ionisation spectra of these compounds gave strong sodium adduct molecular and sodium adduct dimer ions. Negative ionisation yielded the molecular ion primarily and was, therefore, used for analysis: quantitative determination was based on the most abundant product ions for each ginsenoside. The method was used to extract and analyse commercial samples of P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius.

Variability in commercial ginseng products: an analysis of 25 preparations.

BACKGROUND: Because dietary supplements are not subject to the same regulations that pharmaceuticals are, there is concern among medical professionals that these products may lack purity or potency. OBJECTIVE: To determine the variability in a range of ginseng herbal products available in the United States, we identified and measured the concentration of marker compounds by using HPLC and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. DESIGN: Twenty-five commercial ginseng preparations from the genera Panax or Eleutherococcus were obtained from a local health food store and analyzed for 7 ginsenosides (marker compounds for Panax species, which include Asian and American ginseng) and 2 eleutherosides (marker compounds for Eleutherococcus senticosus, also known as Siberian ginseng). RESULTS: All plant products were correctly identified by botanical plant species (ie, Panax species or E. senticosus); however, concentrations of marker compounds differed significantly from labeled amounts. There was also significant product-to-product variability: concentrations of ginsenosides varied by 15- and 36-fold in capsules and liquids, respectively, and concentrations of eleutherosides varied by 43- and 200-fold in capsules and liquids, respectively. Although a systematic search for adulterants was not conducted, review of the HPLC and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry data suggest that no substances other than ginsenosides or eleutherosides were extracted from the plant material. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that US ginseng products are correctly labeled as to plant genus; however, variability in concentrations of marker compounds suggests that standardization may be necessary for quality assurance and that characterization of herbal products should be considered in the design and evaluation of studies on herbal products.

State of complementary and alternative medicine in cardiovascular, lung, and blood research: executive summary of a workshop.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recently cosponsored a workshop on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cardiovascular, lung, and blood research. In view of the increasing use of CAM by the general public, it is imperative to promote credible research by the established biomedical community. The goal of this workshop was to enhance the exchange of information and ideas between alternative medicine practitioners and scientists in cardiovascular, lung, and blood research and to foster collaborative research among these researchers. The workshop focused on 5 areas of research, including a historical and cultural perspective of CAM, methodological issues in clinical trials, herbal medicine, chelation therapy, mind/body (meditation) therapy, and acupuncture. CAM has become widely used without rigorously proven efficacy and safety. To protect the public, it was recommended that the fundamental mechanistic research for these CAM approaches be vigorously pursued and that any large-scale clinical trial be carefully executed to avoid any waste of resources and any unnecessary risk. It was felt that standardization of botanical products and procedure-based CAM intervention, such as acupuncture and meditation, is essential for meaningful basic and clinical research. Although botanical products properly consumed are perceived as generally safe, potential herb-drug interactions are a major safety concern. Clearly, many challenges need to be addressed by the scientific community before the public can be assured of the proper use of CAM.

Diet and lupus.

The effect of dietary modifications has been extensively studied in lupus animal models. Calorie, protein, and especially fat restriction, caused a significant reduction in immune-complex deposition in the kidney, reduced proteinuria and prolongation of the mice's life span. The addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as fish oil or linseed oil, was also related to decreased mice morbidity and mortality in animal models of lupus and of antiphospholipid syndrome. PUFAs such as eicosapetaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) competitively inhibit arachidonic acid with a resultant decrease in inflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines. Human studies support the effect of a PUFAs-enriched diet, both scrologically and clinically. Large scale clinical studies are needed to confirm the primary results.

Shosaiko-to and other Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines: a review of their immunomodulatory activities.

The use of alternative medicine, including consumption of herbal products and dietary supplements, has been increasing substantially both in the United States and in Western Europe. One area that is garnering increased attention is the use of Oriental Medicine including Kampo, or Japanese herbal medicine. Herein, we review representative examples of research available on the most common use of Kampo medicinals, namely to improve the immune response. We also provide an extensive background on the history of Kampo. There are more than 210 different Kampo formulae used in Japan and most uses of Kampo are to modulate the immune response, i.e. to improve immunity. We have extracted data on seven common Kampo medicinals, and the data are reviewed with respect to in vitro and in vivo activities for both humans and experimental animals; the ingredients as well as the problems with classification of these materials are presented. Research suggests that Kampo herbals are biologically active and may have therapeutic potential. While it is believed that Kampo medicines have few side effects, there is a paucity of data on their toxicity as well as a relative lack of knowledge of the bioactive constituents and potential drug interactions of these agents.

Inflammation and Native American medicine: the role of botanicals.

There is a growing interest in medicinal botanicals as part of complementary medicine in the United States. In particular, both physicians and consumers are becoming aware of the use of herbals by Native American societies; many botanicals sold today as dietary supplements in the United States were used by Native Americans for similar purposes. Yet, these supplements represent only a small number of the >2500 different plant species from vascular taxa, and >2800 species from all taxa, known to have been prized for their medicinal properties by the indigenous inhabitants of the North American continent. We review some of the studies of the immunomodulatory activities of botanicals used by native peoples of North America, the bioactive constituents responsible for those activities, and the mechanisms by which these constituents might modulate the immune system. We focus particularly on 3 species of purple coneflower (ECHINACEA:) because of the widespread use of purple coneflower in the United States to boost immunity and prevent upper respiratory infections. Seven of the 10 most common botanicals sold in the United States were used extensively by Native Americans. However, there are very few data to support such use and even less information about drug toxicity or interactions.

Hypnosis and asthma: a critical review.

Asthma is among the most common chronic diseases of the western world and has significant effects on patients' health and quality of life. Asthma is typically treated with pharmaceutical products, but there is interest in finding nonpharmaceutical therapies for this condition. Hypnosis has been used clinically to treat a variety of disorders that are refractive to pharmaceutical-based therapies, including asthma, but relatively little attention has been given recently to the use of clinical hypnosis as a standard treatment for asthma. Significant data suggest that hypnosis may be an effective treatment for asthma, but it is premature to conclude that hypnosis is unequivocally effective. Studies conducted to date have consistently demonstrated an effect of hypnosis with asthma. More and larger randomized, controlled studies are needed. Existing data suggest that hypnosis efficacy is enhanced in subjects who are susceptible to the treatment modality, with experienced investigators, when administered over several sessions, and when reinforced by patient autohypnosis. Children in particular appear to respond well to hypnosis as a tool for improving asthma symptoms.

Apple juice consumption reduces plasma low-density lipoprotein oxidation in healthy men and women.

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies show that consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with beneficial effects on human health including reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Fruits and their juices contain phytochemicals that inhibit in vitro low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and may account, in part, for their protective effect. However, reports of in vivo antioxidant effects from fruit intake are limited. We conducted a human trial to examine the in vivo effect of consumption of apples (both whole and juice) in an unblinded, randomized, crossover design. Healthy men and women added 375 ml of unsupplemented apple juice or 340 g of cored whole apple to their daily diet for 6 weeks, then crossed over to the alternate product for 6 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after each dietary period. Compliance was monitored via biweekly 5-day food records, bodyweight checks, and meetings with study personnel. There were no significant differences between groups in intake of dietary fat, cholesterol, total carbohydrate, sugar, or calories throughout the study. Dietary fiber intake increased by 22% with whole apple consumption. Body weight, fasting serum lipid concentration, and other lipoprotein parameters were unchanged. Apple juice consumption increased ex vivo copper (Cu(++))-mediated LDL oxidation lag time by 20% compared with baseline. Apples and apple juice both reduced conjugated diene formation. Moderate apple juice consumption provides in vivo antioxidant activity. In view of the current understanding of CAD, the observed effect on LDL might be associated with reduced CAD risk and supports the inclusion of apple juice in a healthy human diet.

Effect of spirulina on the secretion of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of Spirulina, a bluegreen alga used as a food supplement. The effects of Spirulina on the secretion of three cytokines from unstimulated and stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined. In resting PBMC, Spirulina stimulated secretion of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-4, and interferon (IFN)-gamma to nearly 2.0, 3.3, and 13.6 times basal levels, respectively. Spirulina induced levels of IFN-gamma (229 +/- 104 pg/ml) that were comparable to those seen after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation (476 +/- 121 pg/ml). However, it was much less mitogenic than PHA (13.1 +/- 6.9 pg/ml) with respect to the induction of IL-4 secretion (0.34 +/- 0.1 pg/ml). In PHA-stimulated cells, Spirulina enhanced secretion of IL-1beta, IL-4, and IFN-beta by 2.9, 4.0., and 1.6 times, respectively. Although Spirulina stimulates several cytokines, it is clearly more effective in the generation of a Thl-type response. This in vitro study offers additional data for consideration of the potential therapeutic benefits of Spirulina.

Behavioral and hematologic consequences of marginal iron-zinc nutrition in adolescent monkeys and the effect of a powdered beef supplement.

BACKGROUND: The adolescent growth spurt and menarche increase iron and zinc needs and could precipitate functional deficiencies if dietary sources are inadequate. OBJECTIVE: The effects of mild, combined zinc and iron deprivation during the growth spurt and the ability of meat as a common dietary source of zinc and iron to reverse these effects was studied. DESIGN: Pubertal female rhesus monkeys were fed control diets (n = 8) or diets marginally deficient in zinc (2 microg/g diet; n = 8) and iron (10 microg/g diet; n = 8) for 3 mo. A powdered beef supplement (104 microg Zn/g and 43 microg Fe/g, 11 +/- 2 g/d) was then fed daily to half of the deprived group for 3 additional months. RESULTS: Growth and hematology were not affected significantly by iron-zinc deprivation, but plasma zinc and iron were somewhat lower in the deprived group than in the control group after 3 mo. The deprived monkeys reduced their participation in behavioral testing, responded more slowly and less frequently to test stimuli, and were less active. The beef supplement increased participation in testing and stabilized activity levels, but response times remained depressed. Plasma ferritin was lower in the nonsupplemented deprived monkeys than in the controls by the end of the experiment. Four of 8 of the deprived monkeys had iron deficiency anemia compared with none of the controls and 1 of 8 who received the beef supplement. CONCLUSIONS: Marginal zinc and iron deprivation in early adolescence can lead to behavioral and hematologic dysfunction in nonhuman primates and dietary beef supplements can prevent and reverse some of these effects.

Effects of ginseng components on c-DNA-expressed cytochrome P450 enzyme catalytic activity.

Because little is known about the interactions between herbal products and standard medications, the effects of seven ginsenosides and two eleutherosides (active components of the ginseng root) on the catalytic activity of c-DNA expressed cytochrome P450 isoforms were studied in in vitro experiments. Increasing concentrations of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and Rg1 and eleutherosides B and E were incubated with a panel of recombinant human CYP isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4) and their effects on the conversion of specific surrogate substrates measured fluorometrically in a 96-well plate format. For each test substance, the IC50 (the concentration required to inhibit the metabolism of the surrogate substrates by 50%) was estimated and this value compared with that obtained for positive control inhibitory drugs furafylline, sulfaphenazole, tryanylcypromine, quinidine, and ketoconizole. Of the components tested, three ginsenosides (Rd, Rc, and Rf) modified the activity of the recombinant enzymes. Ginsenoside Rd produced weak inhibitory activity against the surrogate substrates for CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 and even weaker inhibitory activity against the surrogate substrates for CYP2C19 and CYP2C9. The IC50 values of 58 and 74 uM for the two substrates for CYP3A4 are orders of magnitude higher than that for the potent inhibitor ketoconazole used as a positive control. Ginsenoside Rc produced an increase in the activity of CYP2C9 (70% at 200 uM) and ginsenoside Rf produced an increase in the activity of CYP3A4 (54% at 200 uM). The biological significance of this is unclear at this time. Enzyme "activation", the process by which direct addition of one compound to an enzyme enhances the rate of reaction of the substrate, has been observed in a number of cases with P450 enzymes; however, a matrix effect caused by the test compound fluorescing at the same wavelength as the metabolite of the marker substrate cannot be ruled out. In summary, these studies suggest that the ginsenosides and eleutherosides tested are not likely to inhibit the metabolism of coadministered medications in which the primary route of elimination is via cytochrome P450; the potential of ginsenosides to enhance the catalysis of certain substrates requires further investigation.

Mushrooms, tumors, and immunity.

Medicinal properties have been attributed to mushrooms for thousands of years. Mushroom extracts are widely sold as nutritional supplements and touted as beneficial for health. Yet, there has not been a critical review attempting to integrate their nutraceutical potential with basic science. Relatively few studies are available on the biologic effects of mushroom consumption, and those have been performed exclusively in murine models. In this paper, we review existing data on the mechanism of whole mushrooms and isolated mushroom compounds, in particular (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, and the means by which they modulate the immune system and potentially exert tumor-inhibitory effects. We believe that the antitumor mechanisms of several species of whole mushrooms as well as of polysaccharides isolated from Lentinus edodes, Schizophyllum commune, Grifola frondosa, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum are mediated largely by T cells and macrophages. Despite the structural and functional similarities of these glucans, they differ in their effectiveness against specific tumors and in their ability to elicit various cellular responses, particularly cytokine expression and production. Unfortunately, our data base on the involvement of these important mediators is still rather limited, as are studies concerning the molecular mechanisms of the interactions of glucans with their target cells. As long as it remains unclear what receptors are involved in, and what downstream events are triggered by, the binding of these glucans to their target cells, it will be difficult to make further progress in understanding not only their antitumor mechanisms but also their other biological activities.

Identification and molecular characterization of Charybdis feriatus tropomyosin, the major crab allergen.

BACKGROUND: Crab sensitivity is one of the most common seafood allergies. However, to date, there has been no report on the molecular characterization of crab allergens and no comparative analysis with other seafood allergens. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to clone, identify, and determine the primary structure of a major IgE-reactive molecule in crab. METHODS: We constructed an expression cDNA library from a common crab, Charybdis feriatus. This library was then screened with the use of sera from subjects with a well-documented history of type I hypersensitivity reactions upon ingestion of crab. An IgE-reactive clone was chosen and subcloned into plasmids for nucleotide sequence determination and expression in Escherichia coli. RESULTS: We identified a 1-kb cDNA designated as Cha f 1. Expression of Cha f 1 produces a 34-kd recombinant protein reactive to the IgE antibodies from patients with crab allergies but not from control subjects. Cha f 1 has an opening reading frame of 264 amino acids and demonstrates marked homology to the shrimp tropomyosin Met e 1. Absorption of allergic sera with Cha f I removes IgE reactivity to crab extract. Moreover, absorption of allergic sera with recombinant shrimp Met e 1 tropomyosin removes IgE reactivity to Cha f 1. CONCLUSIONS: This 34-kd protein, designated as Cha f 1, is the first identified major allergen of crab. Nucleotide and amino acid comparison shows that this protein is the crab tropomyosin. The molecular basis of shrimp and crab allergy is readily demonstrated at the nucleotide and amino acid level.

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease anti-dsDNA and anti-cardiolipin antibodies production in idiotype induced mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of diets with different polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, including linseed oil which contains 70% omega-3 fatty acids, on autoantibody production in idiotype induced mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Five different fats were fed to mice with induced SLE and antibody titers to anti-DNA and anti-cardiolipin were determined and histological examination of kidneys were carried out. RESULTS: SLE mice fed linseed oil showed lower titers of antibodies to DNA and to cardiolipin and less severe kidney damage than mice fed other diets, including fish oil. CONCLUSION: Use of linseed oil may attenuate the severity of SLE and this diet may be recommended for other auto-immune diseases as well.

The use of complementary/alternative medicine for the treatment of asthma in the United States.

Despite our advances in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, the incidence of mortality is increasing in developed countries. As patients and health care providers seek new options for the treatment and prevention of asthma, various complementary and alternative medical therapies are being used. With funding from the Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, our goal was to identify the type and prevalence of complementary and alternative treatments for asthma in use in the United States in order to establish a research agenda for the study of the most promising therapies. A survey was developed by an expert panel. After undergoing a preliminary round of testing and improvement, the survey was then sent along with a postage-paid return envelope as inserts in the May 1996 issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, a peer-reviewed periodical of complementary and alternative medical research and scholarly activity; 10,000 surveys were distributed. We asked that only those who treated asthma respond. The surveys were designed to identify characteristics of the respondent, their particular practice type, use of complementary and alternative medicine, or conventional medicine in general, patient characteristics and numbers, and their use of 20 specific potential therapies to treat asthma. A total of 564 surveys were returned. The 5.64% response rate was low but was reflective of the demographics of the readership of this journal of complementary and alternative medicine. The survey population was 46% male and 43% female; 11% did not specify gender. They ranged in age from under 31 years old to over 70. The largest group (37%) of respondents held degrees as medical doctors, 27% held doctorates in complementary and alternative medicine related disciplines, 11% had registered nursing degrees, 4% were acupuncturists and 18% did not specify their training. Practice characteristics between MD and non-MD asthma care providers did not differ. The majority had general practices (75%) seeing all ages of patients. MDs were less likely to employ complementary and alternative medicine techniques for asthma compared to non-MDs. Both groups identified dietary and nutritional approaches as their most prevalent and useful asthma treatment option. Use of botanicals, meditation and homeopathy were frequently cited; statistically significant differences appeared in the rankings of treatment usefulness and prevalence between MD and non-MDs. Non-MD asthma care providers were more likely to ask patients about their use of complementary and alternative treatments for asthma than MDs (92% vs. 70%), while both groups showed statistically significant increases in their levels of patient inquiries compared to 2 years previously (up 9% and 8% for MDs and non-MDs respectively). The predominance of diet and nutrition supplementation used by MDs and non-MDs suggests that further attention and research efforts should be directed toward this area of complementary and alternative practice. Other complementary and alternative medicine practices such as botanicals, meditation and homeopathy appear to warrant research efforts. Differences between MDs and non-MDs in their use of such therapies may reflect different philosophies as well as training.

Acupuncture in the treatment of asthma: a critical review.

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, patients are turning to treatments and drugs that are considered "alternative" or "complementary" as part of their healthcare. In response, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established an Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) in 1992 to facilitate identification and evaluation of alternative and complementary therapies. Acupuncture, a therapy that has been used to treat disease in China for approximately 2,500 years has attracted considerable attention. NIH in a consensus statement derived from a Fall of 1997 consensus conference to assess acupuncture has indicated that acupuncture was useful in pain control and maybe a useful adjunct treatment for the management of asthma. Further, the US Food and Drug Administration has removed acupuncture from the "experimental medical devices" category. METHODS: We have extensively searched the literature for reports addressing the use of acupuncture in asthma treatment. We sought these using the National Library of Medicine, the Office of Alternative Medicine's database as well as other databases both English language based as well as other languages that catalog literature pertaining to alternative and complementary therapies. We then reviewed these reports and weighted the validity of the conclusions reached in the reports based on assessment of study design, number of subjects studied, duration of studies, types and number of controls, and statistical analyses used. RESULTS: Data presently in the literature do not provide sufficient support for a useful role for acupuncture in asthma management. CONCLUSIONS: Further properly designed clinical studies examining the use of acupuncture in asthma are extremely important and urgently needed.

Complementary medicine: a review of immunomodulatory effects of Chinese herbal medicines.

Popular demand for and scientific interest in complementary or alternative medicine, particularly medicinal botanicals, has increased considerably in recent years. The medicinal botanicals with the longest tradition, and for which extensive data are available, are Chinese herbal medicines and their Japanese counterparts--Kampo medicines. This review focuses on some representative examples of studies examining the effects of some traditional Chinese medicines on various aspects of the immune response. In vitro as well as in vivo studies are cited, the latter including not only animal experiments but also clinical trials. Although by no means exhaustive, this review attempts to show that much research has focused on the specific beneficial effects of Chinese herbal medicines. Studies examining the mechanisms by which they exert their immunomodulatory actions, however, are found much less frequently. Nonetheless, even the limited number of mechanistic experiments presented here reveal that numerous mechanisms are likely involved in the various actions of even a single medicine. It will be the elucidation of such mechanisms that will provide the scientific basis for establishing the efficacy and safety of not only Chinese herbal medicines but all forms of medicinal botanicals.

Dietary Juniperis virginiensis seed oil decreased pentobarbital-associated mortalities among DBA/1 mice treated with collagen-adjuvant emulsions.

The propensity of the fatty acid 5,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid (5,11,14-ETA) to replace arachidonic acid in cell membranes, and its inability to be converted to bioactive eicosanoids, suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Previously, dietary application of oils extracted from 5,11,14-ETA-rich Platycladus orientalis delayed the onset of autoimmune disease in New Zealand Black mice. To gain more knowledge of the efficacy of this fatty acid toward alleviating immunological disorders, a similar oil was used to examine its effects on collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice, a model characterized by synovial proliferation and joint infiltration by inflammatory cells. Mice were fed AIN76A diet supplemented with 4% (w/w) of either an oil extracted from the seeds of Juniperis virginiensis (0.4% 5,11,14-ETA); a control oil consisting of equal parts olive, linseed and safflower oils; fish oil (90% fish oil and 10% safflower oil); or safflower oil. Mice were immunized with three injections of collagen-adjuvant emulsions, the first injection was intradermal, and the two subsequent injections were intraperitoneal. Mortalities were recorded following a secondary pentobarbital administration intraperitoneally. Mice from the J. virginiensis group had the lowest mortalities (25%) while safflower oil-fed mice had the highest (59%; p < 0.05). While the J. virginiensis group had the lowest mean CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte ratio, the fish oil group had the highest. These observations suggest that manipulation of eicosanoid production by different dietary lipids had different effects on immune responses, possibly through alterations in T lymphocyte subsets. Hypothetically, a downregulation of prostaglandin E2 release could increase the ratio of T helper 1 to T helper 2 lymphocytes and thereby modulate anaphylactic responses. Also, lowered pro-oxidant status may decrease CD4/CD8 T cell ratios and modify immune function.