Adjuvant effects of salidroside from Rhodiola rosea L. on the immune responses to ovalbumin in mice

Abstract

Salidroside, a major component of Rhodiola rosea L., was evaluated for its adjuvant effects on the immune responses in mice by ovalbumin (OVA) stimulation. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with OVA 100 μg or OVA 100 μg dissolved in saline containing alum (100 μg) or salidroside (12.5, 25, or 50 μg) on Days 1 and 15. Two weeks later (Day 28), blood samples were collected to analyze OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b antibodies. Meanwhile, splenocytes were harvested to assess lymphocyte proliferation, cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ) production, and CD4⁺, CD8⁺ lymphocyte subsets. The results indicated that co-administration of salidroside with OVA significantly enhanced the ConA-, LPS-, and OVA-induced splenocyte proliferation, produced more IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, and IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b antibody levels, and increased the percentage of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ lymphocyte subsets than OVA alone. Thus, salidroside possess immunological adjuvant activity by regulating humoral and cellular immune responses in mice.

Keywords::

• Salidroside
• adjuvant
• cytokines
• antibody

Acknowledgement

This study was financed by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 30972212).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.