Immune-enhancing composition containing plant mixed extract powder as active ingredient

Abstract

To provide an immune-enhancing composition containing as an active ingredient a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, cornus fruit, Platycodon root, dried citrus peel, paper mulberry, wolfberry fruit, ginger and Yuzu.SOLUTION: The immune-enhancing composition contains as an active ingredient a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, cornus fruit, Platycodon root, dried citrus peel, paper mulberry, wolfberry fruit, ginger and Yuzu. The mixed extract contains, based on the total weight, 20-30 wt.% of mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt.% of cornus fruit, 10-20 wt.% of Platycodon root, 5-10 wt.% of dried citrus peel, 5-10 wt.% of paper mulberry, 5-10 wt.% of wolfberry fruit, 5-10 wt.% of ginger, and 5-10 wt.% of Yuzu.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an immune enhancing composition containing a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese cornus, Chinese bellflower, Unshiu peel, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu as an active ingredient. [Background technology]

[0002] "Immunity" refers to the state in which an organism has strong resistance to a specific pathogen or toxin. Immunity protects the organism from damage caused by external stimuli and invasion by pathogenic microorganisms, but it can also damage the organism's own tissues, such as in inflammatory reactions.

[0003] The effects of regulating changes in immune function and restoring it to its peak or reducing the extent of the changes are classified as immune function suppression or immune function enhancement. Alleviating hypersensitive immune responses means suppressing undesirably increased immune responses such as allergic reactions caused by adverse reactions to external substances, and reactions to self-antigens or modified self-antigens.

[0004] Immunity is broadly divided into innate immunity, which is present from birth, and adaptive immunity, which is acquired.

[0005] Innate immunity refers to a natural immune response that reacts directly to a specific antigen and destroys target cells without having been exposed to it, but it reacts non-specifically to antigens and has no special memory function. The innate immune system includes skin and mucus tissue that block the invasion of antigens, gastric acid that is highly acidic, and complement present in blood. The cellular defense of the innate immune system is phagocytes (acidophilic white blood cells, neutral white blood cells, and mononuclear cells) and NK cells, which are a type of lymphocyte, attack invading microorganisms. Among these, mononuclear cells grow into large macrophages when they reach the wound site, and together with NK cells, they play the most central role in the defense mechanism, and in fact most infections are defended against by innate immunity.

[0006] Adaptive immunity, also called acquired immunity, has the characteristic of being able to remember antigens that invade for the first time and effectively remove antigens by responding specifically when they invade again, thus reinforcing innate immunity. Adaptive immunity is divided into humoral immunity involving B lymphocytes and cellular immunity involving T lymphocytes. In humoral immunity, B lymphocytes differentiate after recognizing an antigen and secrete antibodies, which mainly function to remove infected bacteria. In cellular immunity, T lymphocytes derived from the thymus recognize antigens and secrete lymphokines or directly kill infected cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0007275 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an immune enhancing composition comprising a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese cornus, Chinese bellflower, Unripe citrus fruit, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu as an active ingredient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an immune enhancing composition comprising a mixture of extracts of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried unripe citrus fruit, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu as active ingredients.

[0010] The mixed extract may contain, by total weight, 20-30 wt% mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt% Chinese quince, 10-20 wt% Platycodon grandiflorum, 5-10 wt% Citrus unshiu peel, 5-10 wt% Chinese hawthorn, 5-10 wt% Goji berries, 5-10 wt% ginger, and 5-10 wt% yuzu, but is not limited thereto.

[0011] The mixed extract may be, but is not limited to, a hot water extract.

[0012] The mixed extract may be extracted by an extraction method including, but not limited to, the steps of: 1) mixing mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried citrus fruit, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese goji berries, ginger, and yuzu with purified water and grinding the mixture; 2) adding pectinase and cellulase to the grinded mixture to cause an enzymatic reaction; 3) mixing purified water with the enzyme-treated grinded mixture and heating to extract an extract; 4) concentrating the extract; and 5) adding maltodextrin to the concentrate, drying, and powdering the concentrate.

[0013] After step 5), the method may further include a step of mixing powdered extracts of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried citrus fruit, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu, but is not limited thereto.

[0014] The extract powder may be mixed with 20-30 wt% of mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt% of Chinese quince, 10-20 wt% of Platycodon grandiflorum, 5-10 wt% of Citrus unshiu peel, 5-10 wt% of Chinese hawthorn, 5-10 wt% of Chinese goji berries, 5-10 wt% of ginger, and 5-10 wt% of yuzu, but is not limited thereto.

[0015] The mixed plant extract increases the amounts of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in cells, and also increases the blood levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in animals, thereby exhibiting immune-enhancing effects.

[0016] The mixed extract may be orally administered in an amount of 10 to 1000 mg / kg once a day, but is not limited thereto.

[0017] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a health functional food for improving immunity, comprising a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese corn cherry, Chinese bellflower, dried citrus fruit, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu as an active ingredient. Effect of the Invention

[0018] The mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, bellflower, dried tangerine peel, Chinese hawthorn, wolfberry, ginger and yuzu of the present invention increases the amounts of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in cells and also increases the blood concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in animals, thereby exhibiting an immune-enhancing effect, and can therefore be usefully used in an immune-enhancing composition. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a graph showing the effect of the mixed plant extract powder of the present invention on the viability of mouse spleen cells in vitro. [Diagram 2] 1 is a graph showing the effect of the mixed plant extract powder of the present invention on cytokine production by mouse spleen cells. [Diagram 3] 1 is a graph showing the effect of the mixed plant extract powder of the present invention on cytokine levels in Balb / c mouse serum. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] When an element is said to be "located on" another element, this does not only include the case where one element is in contact with the other element, but also the case where there is another element between the two elements.

[0021] When a part in this specification is said to "include" a certain element, this does not mean to exclude other elements, but means that it may further include other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an immune enhancing composition comprising a mixture of extracts of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried unripe citrus fruit, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu as active ingredients.

[0024] The mulberry leaves referred to in this invention are the leaves of mulberry (Morus alba Linne) or mountain mulberry (Moraceae). They are also known as winter mulberry leaves. The leaves have an egg-shaped or wide egg-shaped pattern, some of which are split into 3 to 5 pieces, and are 8 to 15 cm long and 7 to 13 cm wide. The upper surface is yellowish green or light yellowish brown. The leaf ends are pointed, the lower part is heart-shaped, and the leaf edges are flat. The lower surface has protruding veins, and the small veins are net-shaped, with hairs on top. The texture is light and easy to break into pieces. It has almost no odor and a light taste, but is slightly bitter and astringent.

[0025] The Citrus Unshiu Peel is the dried skin of the mature fruit of the Rutaceae family, Citrus unshiu Markovich. It is an aromatic stomachic medicine used for gastritis and indigestion, as well as for cough suppressant and expectorant.

[0026] The mixed extract may contain, by total weight, 20-30 wt% mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt% Chinese quince, 10-20 wt% Platycodon grandiflorum, 5-10 wt% Citrus unshiu peel, 5-10 wt% Chinese hawthorn, 5-10 wt% Goji berries, 5-10 wt% ginger, and 5-10 wt% yuzu, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] It has been confirmed that the plant mixed extract of the present invention and the plant mixed extract powder of the present invention increase the amounts of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in cells, and also increase the blood concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in animals, thereby having an immune-enhancing effect.

[0028] The mixed extract may be prepared by extracting the extracts of each plant, concentrating and powdering them, and then mixing the powdered extracts in a predetermined ratio.

[0029] Specifically, the extract may be extracted by an extraction method including, but not limited to, the steps of 1) mixing mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried tangerine peel, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese goji berries, ginger, and yuzu with purified water and grinding the mixture, 2) adding pectinase and cellulase to the grinding mixture to cause an enzymatic reaction, 3) mixing the enzyme-treated grinding mixture with purified water and heating to extract an extract, 4) concentrating the extract, and 5) adding maltodextrin to the concentrate, drying, and powdering the concentrate.

[0030] In the crushing step, each plant may be mixed with purified water in an amount of 50 to 100% by weight based on the total weight of the plant, and crushed using a crusher.

[0031] Next, pectinase and cellulase are added to the pulverized material to cause an enzymatic reaction.

[0032] The pectinase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes α-1,4-galacturonic acid bonds, which are the basic structure of pectin, a polymeric substance, to reduce the size of pectin, and the cellulase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes β-1,4-glucoside bonds of cellulose, a polymeric substance, to produce cellulose and glucose. 0.01 to 0.9 g of pectinase and 0.01 to 0.9 g of cellulase can be added per 1 kg of the pulverized material, but are not limited thereto.

[0033] Pertinase and cellulase are added to the pulverized material and mixed, and then the enzyme reaction is carried out for 15 to 30 hours at 37 to 45° C., pH 4.5 to 6.5, and stirring at a rate of 50 ppm or more.

[0034] Thereafter, in order to terminate the enzyme reaction, the mixture is heated at 70 to 80°C for 1 to 2 hours to inactivate the enzyme.

[0035] In the extraction step after the enzyme reaction step, the enzyme-treated pulverized material is further mixed with purified water in an amount of 50-100% by weight based on the total weight of the pulverized material, and heated at a temperature of 80-95°C for 6-7 hours to extract an extract. The mixed plant extract of the present invention is a hot water extract. As an extraction method, any one of hot water extraction, cold maceration extraction, reflux cooling extraction, solvent extraction, steam distillation, ultrasonic extraction, fountain extraction, compression, etc. can be selected and used. In addition, the target extract can be further subjected to a conventional fractionation process, or can be purified using a conventional purification method.

[0036] After the extraction step, a concentration step can be carried out. The extract is filtered through a filter and then concentrated using a vacuum concentrator to form a solid powder of 20 to 25 wt%.

[0037] Then, maltodextrin is added to each of the concentrates in an amount of 20 to 50 wt % based on the total weight of the concentrates, stirred, and then dried and powdered using SD (spray drying).

[0038] After the powdering step, the method may further include a step of mixing with extract powders of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried citrus fruit, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu, but is not limited thereto.

[0039] The extract powder may be mixed with 20-30 wt% of mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt% of Chinese quince, 10-20 wt% of Platycodon grandiflorum, 5-10 wt% of Citrus unshiu peel, 5-10 wt% of Chinese hawthorn, 5-10 wt% of Chinese goji berries, 5-10 wt% of ginger, and 5-10 wt% of yuzu, but is not limited thereto.

[0040] The mixed plant extract powder mixed by the above extraction method increases the amount of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in cells and also increases the blood concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ in animals, thereby exhibiting an immune-enhancing effect, and can be usefully used in an immune-enhancing composition.

[0041] The mixed extract may be orally administered at 10 to 1000 mg / kg once a day.

[0042] The composition of the present invention may further comprise suitable carriers, excipients and diluents commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions.

[0043] Each of the compositions may be formulated and used in the form of a powder, granule, tablet, capsule, suspension, emulsion, syrup, aerosol, or other topical agent or a sterile injection solution by a conventional method, and preferably, may be in the form of a cream, gel, patch, spray, ointment, plaster, lotion, liniment, paste, or cataplasm.

[0044] The carrier, excipient and diluent that can be included in the composition containing the plant mixed extract powder as an active ingredient can include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, starch, gum acacia, alginate, gelatin, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, cellulose, methylcellulose, amorphous cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, water, methyl hydroxybenzoate, propyl hydroxybenzoate, talc, magnesium stearate and mineral oil. When formulated, it is prepared using a diluent or excipient such as a filler, extender, binder, wetting agent, disintegrant, surfactant, etc. Solid preparations for oral administration include tablets, pills, powders, granules, capsules, etc., and such solid preparations are prepared by mixing the extract with at least one excipient, such as starch, calcium carbonate, sucrose or lactose, gelatin, etc.

[0045] In addition to simple excipients, lubricants such as magnesium stearate and talc can also be used. Oral liquid preparations include suspensions, tolerable liquids, emulsions, syrups, etc., and may contain various excipients such as wetting agents, sweeteners, flavorings, preservatives, etc. in addition to water and liquid paraffin, which are commonly used simple diluents.

[0046] Preparations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solvents, suspensions, emulsions, freeze-dried preparations, and suppositories. Non-aqueous solvents and suspensions may include propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable esters such as ethyl oleate. Suppository bases may include witepsol, macrogol, tween 61, cacao butter, laurin butter, and glycerogelatin.

[0047] The composition of the present invention can be formulated in various ways according to the administration route with the pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier by a method known in the art. As used herein, the term "pharma- ceutically acceptable" refers to a non-toxic composition that is physiologically acceptable and does not inhibit the action of an active ingredient when administered to humans, and does not generally cause gastrointestinal disorders, allergic reactions such as dizziness, or similar reactions.

[0048] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a health functional food for improving or enhancing immunity, comprising a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese corn cherry, Chinese bellflower, dried citrus fruit, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese wolfberry, ginger and yuzu as an active ingredient.

[0049] The health functional food of the present invention may include, for example, folk remedies such as tea, jelly, juice, extract, and beverage, which are intended to improve organ function.

[0050] The health functional food of the present invention processed in such various forms has no side effects on the human body, is easy to take, and can be stored for a long period of time.

[0051] There is no particular limitation on the type of food. Examples of foods to which the plant mixed extract powder can be added include meat, sausage, bread, chocolate, candy, snacks, sweets, pizza, ramen, other noodles, gum, ice cream, dairy products including milk, milk substitutes, cream, butter, buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, various soups, beverages, tea, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, and vitamin complexes, including all health foods in the usual sense.

[0052] The health drink composition of the present invention may contain various flavorings or natural carbohydrates as additional ingredients, like ordinary drinks. The natural carbohydrates mentioned above are monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose, disaccharides such as maltose and sucrose, polysaccharides such as dextrin and cyclodextrin, and sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol, and erythritol. As sweeteners, natural sweeteners such as thaumatin and stevia extract, and synthetic sweeteners such as saccharin and aspartame can be used.

[0053] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples and experimental examples. However, the following examples and experimental examples are merely illustrative of the present invention, and the content of the present invention is not limited to the following examples and experimental examples.

[0054] <Example> Manufacturing mixed plant extract powder The raw materials used in this plant blend powder are mulberry leaves, Chinese corn cherry, Chinese bellflower, dried tangerine peel, Chinese hariguwa, goji berries, ginger and yuzu.

[0055] Each of the raw materials is mixed with 100% purified water by weight and pulverized using a pulverizer. 0.1 g of pectinase and 0.2 g of cellulase are added per 1 kg of the pulverized material, mixed, and the enzyme reaction is carried out for 15 to 30 hours at 37 to 45°C, pH 4.5 to 6.5, and agitated at a speed of 50 ppm or more. The enzyme is then inactivated by heating at 70 to 80°C for 1 to 2 hours.

[0056] The enzyme-treated pulverized material is further mixed with purified water in an amount of 100% by weight based on the total weight of the pulverized material, and heated at a temperature of 80 to 95° C. for 6 to 7 hours to obtain an extract.

[0057] The extract is filtered through a filter and then concentrated using a vacuum concentrator to form a solid powder of 20 to 25 wt%.

[0058] Maltodextrin is added to the concentrate in an amount of 20 to 50 wt % based on the total weight of the concentrate, stirred, and then dried using SD.

[0059] The dried powders were mixed as shown in Table 1 below, diluted with distilled water (DW) and then used.

[0060] [Table 1]

[0061] <Experimental Example> 1. Changes in cell viability in spleen cells by mixed plant extracts To confirm the effect of the plant mixture extract on the cell viability of mouse spleen cells, the plant mixture extract (PM) was treated on spleen cells for 24 hours and an MTT assay was performed. Concanavalin A and LPS, which are mitogens for T and B cells, were treated as controls. It was confirmed that cell viability increased slightly in a concentration-dependent manner when the plant mixture extract was treated (Figure 1).

[0062] 2. Changes in cytokine concentrations in spleen cells by the plant extract To confirm the effect of the plant mixture extract on regulating immune responses in mice, mouse spleen cells were treated with the plant mixture extract and Con A for 24 hours. The amount of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ released in the culture medium was measured using an ELISA assay. 100 μL of the supernatant sample was added to a well plate coated with cytokine antibodies and reacted at room temperature for 2 hours, then the upper layer was removed and the plate was washed at least three times with a washing buffer prepared by mixing PBS and Tween 20 (Sigma). After adding the detection antibody solution to react with the antibody, avidin-bound horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme was added and reacted at room temperature for 15 minutes. Then, TMB solution, a substrate for HRP enzyme, was added and reacted to observe the change in color. If cytokines are present in the sample, a color change occurs, and this change indicates the presence or absence of cytokine production. After the reaction between the HRP enzyme and the TMB substrate was terminated by adding a reaction stop solution (H2SO4), the absorbance was measured at 450 nm using a microplate reader (Thermo).

[0063] As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that Con A increased the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ. It was confirmed that the amount of IL-2 produced increased at low concentrations by treatment with the mixed plant extract (Figure 2), the amount of IL-4 produced also increased by the mixed plant extract, and the amount of IL-10 produced also increased at high concentrations by the mixed plant extract. It was also confirmed that the amount of IFN-γ produced increased from low concentrations by treatment with the mixed plant extract (Figure 2).

[0064] 3.Weight measurement of experimental animals and changes in organ weight Seven-week-old male Balb / c mice were purchased from Samtaco (Korea) as experimental animals for measuring the immune-enhancing effect of the plant extract. They were used after acclimating for one week under constant conditions (temperature: 22±2°C, humidity: 50±5%, light / dark: 12-hour light / dark cycle) in an animal breeding room.

[0065] The experimental animals were divided into groups and orally administered Con A, low-concentration mixed plant extract, and high-concentration extract for three days (Table 2).

[0066] [Table 2]

[0067] After a one-week acclimatization period, the mixed plant extract (50, 200mg / kg) was repeatedly administered once a day for a total of three days. Concanavalin A (Con A), the positive control, was administered via the tail vein at a concentration of 2mg / kg bw on the day of the experiment. To equalize the stress induced by administration in each test group, the control group was orally administered the same amount of saline as the sample administration group. On the last day of the experiment, one hour after oral administration and tail vein injection of Con A, the mice were sacrificed, and serum and organs were removed and weighed.

[0068] After the experiment, the organ indices of the liver, kidneys, and spleen were compared, and no significant changes were observed in any of the experimental groups compared to the NC group, indicating that there was no external effect on the liver, kidneys, thymus, or spleen (Table 3).

[0069] [Table 3]

[0070] 4. Changes in serum cytokine concentrations To confirm the effect of the mixed plant extract on regulating immune responses in mice, the changes in the concentrations of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the serum of mice orally administered the extract were measured by ELISA. Using an ELISA kit (R&D system, USA), a 96-well microplate pre-coated with capture antibodies was washed three times with washing buffer according to the manufacturer's protocol, and then 50 μL of assay buffer was dispensed, and 50 μL of each cytokine standard solution and serum were added and reacted at room temperature for 2 hours with an agitator at 200 rpm. After washing three times with washing buffer, 100 μL of detection antibody was dispensed and reacted at room temperature for 1 hour, and then 100 μL of avidin-HRP was dispensed and reacted at room temperature for 30 minutes again. After washing four times with washing buffer, 100 μL of substrate solution containing TMB substrate solution was dispensed and left at room temperature for 15 minutes in the dark, and the reaction was stopped by treating with 100 μL of reaction stop solution, and the absorbance at 450 nm was measured using an ELISA micro reader. The concentration of each cytokine was calculated based on a standard curve obtained using the standard solution.

[0071] The Con A treatment group showed significant changes in the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ compared to the NC (Normal control) group. It was confirmed that the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ increased in a concentration-dependent manner in the plant mixed extract group, and it was also confirmed that the production of IL-4 increased from a low concentration in the plant mixed extract group compared to the NC group. There was no significant change in IL-10 in any of the sample groups (Figures 3A to D).

[0072] conclusion Immune responses are a defense mechanism against pathogens and substances that invade from the outside through the interaction of various immune cells. Various studies have been reported on immune function enhancement, such as increased cytokine production, vaccine adjuvant function, increased macrophage activity, increased immune cell growth, and increased cytotoxic components in immune cells. Complex interactions between immune cells are necessary to carry out an effective immune response. Molecules that mediate communication between cells are collectively called cytokines. Many cytokines are called interleukins (IL) because they are involved in immune responses by acting between white blood cells (leukocytes).

[0073] IL-2 is a cytokine that promotes the differentiation of Th1 and Th2 cells in T cells and plays an important role in maintaining the population of these cells. Th1 and Th2 cells promote the proliferation of macrophages, which are important in innate immunity, and antibody-producing B cells, respectively. Therefore, the results of examining the levels of IL-2 by the plant mixture extract showed that the amount of IL-2 in cells increased, and the blood concentration of IL-2 in animals also increased.

[0074] IL-10 is an inhibitory cytokine that acts directly on T cells and macrophages to suppress cell activation and weaken the antigen-presenting function of macrophages, thereby suppressing immune responses. IL-10 has anti-inflammatory properties and suppresses the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1, which are secreted by activated macrophages. In this experiment, the IL-10 level was confirmed by the mixed plant extract, and when cells were treated with a high concentration (100μg / ml), the amount of IL-10 increased, but there was no significant change in the animal's IL-10 blood concentration.

[0075] Interferon is a hormone-like cytokine signaling factor that acts to protect us as part of innate immunity. There are two types of interferon: IFN type 1, which is produced and secreted by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and IFN type 2, which is secreted by T cells and NK cells. The former expresses a variety of interferon-promoting genes, while the latter helps differentiate macrophages. IFN type 1 is typically INF-α, These are expressed by APCs such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells, and ultimately secrete IFN type 1 and cytokines (IL-12, IL-6, TNF, etc.) through signal transduction pathways. IFN type 2, also called IFN-γ, is produced by NK cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and is an important cytokine in innate immunity that helps activate macrophages.

[0076] In this experiment, in the group treated with the mixed plant extract, the amount of IFN-γ in the cells increased from a low concentration (10 μg / ml), and the IFN-γ blood concentration of the animals also had a significant effect even at a low concentration.

[0077] IL-4 is a cytokine that promotes the differentiation of Th2 cells in naive T cells, further promotes Th2 cell differentiation through a positive feedback action, and induces IgE production in B cells. In the case of IL-4 in the group treated with the mixed plant extract in this experiment, the amount of IL-4 in the cells increased, and it also had a significant effect on the IL-4 blood concentration of the animals even at low concentrations.

Claims

1. An immune enhancing composition comprising a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese corn cherry, Chinese bellflower, dried citrus fruit peel, Chinese hariguwa, Chinese goji berries, ginger and yuzu as an active ingredient.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the mixed extract comprises, by total weight, 20-30 wt% of mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt% of Chinese quince, 10-20 wt% of Platycodon grandiflorum, 5-10 wt% of Citrus unshiu peel, 5-10 wt% of Chinese hawthorn, 5-10 wt% of Goji berries, 5-10 wt% of ginger, and 5-10 wt% of yuzu.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the mixed extract is a hot water extract.

4. The mixed extract comprises: 1) mixing mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried tangerine peel, Chinese halibut, Chinese goji berries, ginger and yuzu with purified water and grinding the mixture; 2) adding pectinase and cellulase to the pulverized material to cause an enzymatic reaction; 3) mixing the enzyme-treated ground material with purified water and heating to extract an extract; 4) concentrating the extract; 5) adding maltodextrin to the concentrate, drying and powdering the concentrate.

5. The composition according to claim 4, further comprising the step of mixing, after step 5), extract powders of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried tangerine peel, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese goji berries, ginger and yuzu.

6. The composition according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a mixture of 20-30 wt% mulberry leaves, 10-20 wt% Chinese quince, 10-20 wt% Platycodon grandiflorum, 5-10 wt% Citrus unshiu peel, 5-10 wt% Hariguwa, 5-10 wt% Goji berries, 5-10 wt% ginger and 5-10 wt% yuzu.

7. The composition of claim 1, characterized in that the extract increases the concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ.

8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the mixed extract is orally administered at 10-1000 mg / kg once a day.

9. A health functional food for strengthening immunity related to muscle loss, containing a mixed extract of mulberry leaves, Chinese quince, Chinese bellflower, dried tangerine peel, Chinese hariguwa, Chinese goji berries, ginger and yuzu as active ingredients.

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