Immune potentials of the Mucor-fermented Mao-tofu and especially its soluble extracts for the normal mice

Figures & data

Table 1. Groups and sample doses used for the experimental mice.

Groups	Samples	Dose levels (mg protein kg^−1 body weight)
I	Saline	None
II	Tofu	80
III	Mao-tofu	80
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	40
V	pH 6.5 water extract	80
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	160
VII	40% ethanol extract	40
VIII	40% ethanol extract	80
IX	40% ethanol extract	160

Table 2. Body weight gains and immune organ indices of the mice after an experimental period of 4 weeks.

Groups	Samples	Weight gains (g)	Spleen index (g kg^−1)	Thymus index (g kg^−1)
I	Saline	1.58 ± 0.11^f	3.18 ± 0.03^d	2.03 ± 0.06^f
II	Tofu	2.49 ± 0.14^e	3.38 ± 0.07^c,d	2.17 ± 0.07^e,f
III	Mao-tofu	2.61 ± 0.13^e	3.46 ± 0.11^b,c,d	2.25 ± 0.09^d,e,f
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	3.13 ± 0.12^c,d	3.61 ± 0.13^b,c	2.41 ± 0.15^c,d,e
V	pH 6.5 water extract	3.56 ± 0.18^b	3.76 ± 0.16^a,b	2.66 ± 0.21^b,c
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	3.83 ± 0.13^a	3.96 ± 0.35^a	2.98 ± 0.22^a
VII	40% ethanol extract	3.05 ± 0.12^d	3.55 ± 0.12^b,c	2.28 ± 0.13^d,e,f
VIII	40% ethanol extract	3.31 ± 0.16^c	3.71 ± 0.13^a,b	2.53 ± 0.16^b,c,d
IX	40% ethanol extract	3.68 ± 0.14^a,b	3.78 ± 0.22^a,b	2.75 ± 0.21^a,b

Note: Different lowercase letters after the mean values as the superscripts in the same column indicate that one-way ANOVA of the mean values differ significantly (P < .05).

Table 3. Percentages of T-lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+ and CD8+) in the mice plasma samples after an experimental period of 4 weeks.

Groups	Samples	CD4+ (%)	CD8+ (%)
I	Saline	33.7 ± 2.2^e	10.8 ± 0.6^d
II	Tofu	34.8 ± 2.5^d,e	11.1 ± 0.2^d
III	Mao-tofu	35.4 ± 2.6^d,e	11.4 ± 0.4^d
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	39.2 ± 2.1^c,d	12.7 ± 0.3^c
V	pH 6.5 water extract	45.4 ± 2.7^a,b	13.4 ± 0.9^c
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	49.1 ± 2.5^a	16.7 ± 0.7^a
VII	40% ethanol extract	36.5 ± 2.9^d,e	11.4 ± 0.8^d
VIII	40% ethanol extract	42.1 ± 2.1^b,c	13.1 ± 0.5^c
IX	40% ethanol extract	46.5 ± 2.8^a,b	14.6 ± 0.2^b

Note: Different lowercase letters after the mean values as the superscripts in the same column indicate that one-way ANOVA of the mean values differ significantly (P < .05).

Table 4. Serum immunoglobulin and complement levels of the mice after an experimental period of 4 weeks.

Groups	Samples	IgG (mg mL^−1)	IgA (μg mL^−1)	IgM (μg mL^−1)	C3 (μg mL^−1)	C4 (μg mL^−1)
I	Saline	12.9 ± 0.6^f	721.8 ± 6.4^f	738.2 ± 6.8^g	5.1 ± 0.1^e	2.9 ± 0.4^c
II	Tofu	13.6 ± 0.5^e,f	778.3 ± 9.3^e	750.1 ± 2.6^f,g	5.4 ± 0.3^e	3.1 ± 0.5^b,c
III	Mao-tofu	14.9 ± 0.9^c,d	782.8 ± 7.6^e	762.4 ± 5.1^f	5.7 ± 0.2^d,e	3.2 ± 0.5^b,c
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	14.4 ± 0.4^d,e	870.5 ± 5.2^c	814.2 ± 10.5^d	6.9 ± 0.4^b,c	3.5 ± 0.2^b,c
V	pH 6.5 water extract	17.1 ± 0.2^b	934.2 ± 8.4^b	858.1 ± 7.4^c	7.9 ± 0.2^a	4.4 ± 0.4^a
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	18.6 ± 0.3^a	1010.1 ± 10.2^a	997.5 ± 6.8^a	8.3 ± 0.5^a	4.9 ± 0.2^a
VII	40% ethanol extract	13.8 ± 0.6^e,f	816.5 ± 7.3^d	786.2 ± 11.5^e	6.3 ± 0.6^c,d	3.4 ± 0.1^b,c
VIII	40% ethanol extract	15.7 ± 0.7^c	821.7 ± 4.6^d	824.5 ± 7.5^d	7.1 ± 0.8^b	3.7 ± 0.3^b
IX	40% ethanol extract	18.2 ± 0.4^a	946.7 ± 7.7^b	872.1 ± 5.4^b	8.2 ± 0.3^a	4.6 ± 0.1^a

Note: Different lowercase letters after the mean values as the superscripts in the same column indicate that one-way ANOVA of the mean values is significantly different (P < .05).

Table 5. Serum cytokine levels (pg mL⁻¹) of the mice after an experimental period of 4 weeks.

Groups	Samples	Th1 cytokines		Th2 cytokines
		IFN-γ	IL-2	IL-4	IL-5	IL-10
I	Saline	93.3 ± 6.1^d	35.3 ± 2.4^e	94.7 ± 2.4^a	104.5 ± 2.3^a	107.3 ± 3.1^a
II	Tofu	94.3 ± 5.3^d	37.2 ± 2.3^e	92.5 ± 3.3^a,b	102.5 ± 1.8^a,b	103.1 ± 1.1^b
III	Mao-tofu	95.3 ± 6.4^d	39.5 ± 1.4^d,e	90.7 ± 2.1^a,b	101.4 ± 2.4^a,b,c	101.7 ± 1.8^b,c
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	99.3 ± 8.1^c,d	43.5 ± 3.4^b,c,d	85.5 ± 1.7^c,d	97.8 ± 2.5^c,d.e	98.3 ± 2.4^c
V	pH 6.5 water extract	106.8 ± 5.6^b,c	45.7 ± 4.7^a,b,c	80.8 ± 2.9^d,e	94.7 ± 1.6^e	92.9 ± 1.5^d
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	118.4 ± 2.5^a	49.3 ± 2.5^a	77.7 ± 3.5^e	88.2 ± 2.2^f	84.8 ± 1.3^e
VII	40% ethanol extract	97.1 ± 6.3^c,d	40.4 ± 2.6^c,d,e	88.7 ± 1.9^b,c	99.5 ± 1.7^b,c,d	99.4 ± 2.4^c
VIII	40% ethanol extract	103.1 ± 6.9^b,c,d	42.7 ± 2.7^b,c,d	84.1 ± 2.2^c,d	96.3 ± 2.1^d,e	92.7 ± 1.4^d
IX	40% ethanol extract	113.3 ± 4.5^a,b	46.4 ± 2.7^a,b	78.3 ± 3.8^e	89.4 ± 1.5^f	87.5 ± 1.5^e

Note: Different lowercase letters after the mean values as the superscripts in the same column indicate that one-way ANOVA of the mean values differ significantly (P < .05).

Table

Groups	Samples	Dose levels (mg kg^−1)	White blood cells (×10^9  L^−1)	Lymphocytes (%)	Monocytes (%)	Granulocytes (%)
I	Saline	None	7.11 ± 0.13^f	0.42 ± 0.12^b,c	9.47 ± 0.45^a	90.11 ± 1.46^a
II	Tofu	80	7.23 ± 0.23^e,f	0.84 ± 0.25^a,b	9.23 ± 0.25^a	89.93 ± 2.41^a
III	Mao-tofu	80	7.29 ± 0.26^d,e,f	0.83 ± 0.25^a,b	15.43 ± 0.64^a	83.74 ± 1.45^c
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	40	7.71 ± 0.16^d,e	0.54 ± 0.06^a,b,c	11.03 ± 0.76^a	88.43 ± 1.71^a,b
V	pH 6.5 water extract	80	8.33 ± 0.32^b,c	0.63 ± 0.57^a,b,c	13.97 ± 0.52^a	85.40 ± 3.99^b,c
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	160	9.07 ± 0.16^a	0.47 ± 0.12^a,b,c	14.07 ± 0.32^a	85.46 ± 1.41^b,c
VII	40% ethanol extract	40	7.37 ± 0.65^d,e,f	0.21 ± 0.19^c	18.47 ± 0.72^a	81.32 ± 2.07^c
VIII	40% ethanol extract	80	7.83 ± 0.17^c,d	0.38 ± 0.25^b,c	14.53 ± 0.64^a	85.09 ± 2.45^b,c
IX	40% ethanol extract	160	8.71 ± 0.21^a,b	0.94 ± 0.21^a	10.43 ± 0.96^a	88.63 ± 1.91^a,b

Note: Different lowercase letters after the mean values as the superscripts in the same column indicate that one-way ANOVA of the mean values differ significantly (P < .05).

Appendix 2. Other hematological parameters of the mice after an experimental period of 4 weeks.

Groups	Samples	Dose levels (mg kg^−1)	Hemoglobins (g L^−1)	Mean corpuscular hemoglobins (pg)	Red blood cells (×10^12  L^−1)	Hematokrits (%)	Platelets (×10^11  L^−1)	Thrombocytosis (%)
I	Saline	None	110.13 ± 2.04^b	11.57 ± 0.15^d	9.18 ± 0.23^c	38.53 ± 1.11^b	6.58 ± 0.49^d	0.98 ± 0.14^b
II	Tofu	80	110.42 ± 3.71^b	11.63 ± 0.25^c,d	9.23 ± 0.39^c	38.87 ± 3.38^b	6.83 ± 0.15^c,d	1.04 ± 0.12^a,b
III	Mao-tofu	80	110.75 ± 4.47^b	11.69 ± 0.26^c,d	9.33 ± 0.16^b,c	38.93 ± 1.17^b	6.87 ± 0.37^c,d	1.07 ± 0.27^a,b
IV	pH 6.5 water extract	40	112.39 ± 2.71^a,b	12.03 ± 0.15^b,c	9.49 ± 0.12^a,b,c	40.09 ± 3.35^a,b	7.11 ± 0.19^c,d	1.07 ± 0.23^a,b
V	pH 6.5 water extract	80	114.67 ± 3.05^a,b	12.29 ± 0.11^b	9.61 ± 0.03^a,b,c	41.03 ± 0.47^a,b	7.39 ± 0.29^b,c	1.22 ± 0.13^a,b
VI	pH 6.5 water extract	160	120.19 ± 5.69^a	12.83 ± 0.42^a	9.98 ± 0.58^a	42.89 ± 0.92^a	8.19 ± 0.24^a	1.39 ± 0.15^a
VII	40% ethanol extract	40	111.47 ± 4.75^b	11.9 ± 0.11^b,c,d	9.36 ± 0.36^b,c	39.79 ± 1.68^a,b	6.92 ± 0.16^c,d	0.98 ± 0.23^b
VIII	40% ethanol extract	80	113.29 ± 5.21^a,b	12.03 ± 0.32^b,c	9.49 ± 0.27^a,b,c	40.49 ± 0.52^a,b	7.14 ± 0.78^c,d	1.17 ± 0.27^a,b
IX	40% ethanol extract	160	114.69 ± 6.39^a,b	12.31 ± 0.11^b	9.84 ± 0.21^a,b	41.97 ± 1.01^a,b	7.86 ± 0.19^a,b	1.29 ± 0.16^a,b

Note: Different lowercase letters after the mean values as the superscripts in the same column indicate that one-way ANOVA of the mean values differ significantly (P < .05).