Scientific Reference for Natural Immune Support & Nutritional Co-Factors:

Transfer Factors:

Rev Alerg Mex. 2004 Jul-Aug;51(4):151-4. Orozco TT, Solano MO, Sandoval GF, Vera JG, Parra SE.  Inflammatory mediators in patients with atopic dermatitis after treatment with transfer factor.

Inflamm Res. 2005 Feb;54(2):74-81. Ojeda MO, van’t Veer C, Fernandez Ortega CB, Arana Rosainz Mde J, Buurman WA. Dialyzable leukocyte extract differentially regulates the production of TNF alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 in bacterial component-activated leukocytes and endothelial cells.

J Med Food. 2005 Spring;8(1):20-6. Franco-Molina MA, Mendoza-Gamboa E, Castillo-Leon L, Tamez-Guerra RS, Rodriguez-Padilla C. Bovine dialyzable leukocyte extract modulates the nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro.

High Molecular Weight Aloe Polysaccharides:

Phytother Res. 2000 Jun;14(4):261-6. Gauntt CJ, Wood HJ, McDaniel HR, McAnalley BH. Dept. of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Texas, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284-7758, USA. Aloe polymannose enhances anti-coxsackievirus antibody titres in mice.

J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Feb;49(2):1030-4. Pugh N, Ross SA, ElSohly MA, Pasco DS. Dept of Pharmacognosy, National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA. Characterization of Aloeride, a new high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Aloe vera with potent immunostimulatory activity.

Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Feb;5(2):271-9. Im SA, Oh ST, Song S, Kim MR, Kim DS, Woo SS, Jo TH, Park YI, Lee CK. College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, South Korea. Identification of optimal molecular size of modified Aloe polysaccharides with maximum immunomodulatory activity.

Andrographolide

J Nat Prod. 1993 Jul;56(7):995-9. Puri A, Saxena R, Saxena RP, Saxena KC, Srivastava V, Tandon JS. Immunostimulant agents from Andrographis paniculata.

Br J Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;144(5):680-6. Hidalgo MA, Romero A, Figueroa J, Cortes P, Concha II, Hancke JL, Burgos RA. Andrographolide interferes with binding of nuclear factor-kappa B to DNA in HL-60-derived neutrophilic cells.

Andrographolide & Eleutherococcus:

Phytomedicine. 2002 Oct;9(7):589-97. Gabrielian ES, Shukarian AK, Goukasova GI, Chandanian GL, Panossian AG, Wikman G, Wagner H. A double blind, placebo-controlled study of Andrographis paniculata fixed combination Kan Jang in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections including sinusitis.

Phytomedicine. 2002 Oct;9(7):598-605. Panossian A, Davtyan T, Gukassyan N, Gukasova G, Mamikonyan G, Gabrielian E, Wikman G. Effect of andrographolide and Kan Jang—fixed combination of extract SHA-10 and extract SHE-3–on proliferation of human lymphocytes, production of cytokines and immune activation markers in the whole blood cells culture.

Ashwagandha:

J Ethnopharmacol. 1996 Feb;50(2):69-76. Ziauddin M, Phansalkar N, Patki P, Diwanay S, Patwardhan B. Medinova Diagnostics Center, Indian Drugs Research Association, Pune, India. Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 1998 Feb;20(1):191-8. Dhuley JN. Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Pimpri, Pune, India. Therapeutic efficacy of Ashwagandha against experimental aspergillosis in mice.

J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Oct;67(1):27-35. Agarwal R, Diwanay S, Patki P, Patwardhan B. Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune, India. Studies on immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) extracts in experimental immune inflammation.

Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Dec;42(12):2015-20. Kaur K, Rani G, Widodo N, Nagpal A, Taira K, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R. Cell Proliferation Research Team, Gene Function Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8562, Japan.  Evaluation of the anti-proliferative and anti-oxidative activities of leaf extract from in vivo and in vitro raised Ashwagandha.

Phytomedicine. 2005 Mar;12(3):229-35. Owais M, Sharad KS, Shehbaz A, Saleemuddin M. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Antibacterial efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) an indigenous medicinal plant against experimental murine salmonellosis.

Astragalus:

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Jun;22(6):453-6. Wang RT, Shan BE, Li QX. Extracorporeal experimental study on immuno-modulatory activity of Astragalus membranaceus extract.Zhongguo Zhong

Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Feb;24(2):121-3. Mao SP, Cheng KL, Zhou YF. Modulatory effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Th1/Th2 cytokine in patients with herpes simplex keratitis.Biochem

Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Aug 6;320(4):1103-11. Shao BM, Xu W, Dai H, Tu P, Li Z, Gao XM. A study on the immune receptors for polysaccharides from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus, a Chinese medicinal herb.

Colostrum:

Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Mar;5(3):581-90. Yoshioka Y, Kudo S, Nishimura H, Yajima T, Kishihara K, Saito K, Suzuki T, Suzuki Y, Kuroiwa S, Yoshikai Y. Division of Host Defense, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. Oral administration of bovine colostrum stimulates intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes to polarize Th1-type in mice.

Curcumin:

Treatmentupdate. 2000 Jan;11(10):7. Immune boosters. Curcumin and the immune system. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1993 Aug;39(4):345-54. Yasni S, Yoshiie K, Oda H, Sugano M, Imaizumi K. Dept of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. Dietary Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. increases mitogenic responses of splenic lymphocytes in rats, and alters populations of the lymphocytes in mice.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Apr 16;316(4):1065-72. Foryst-Ludwig A, Neumann M, Schneider-Brachert W, Naumann M. Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Leipziger Str. 44, Magdeburg 39120, Germany. Curcumin blocks NF-kappa B and the mitogenic response in Helicobacter pylori-infected epithelial cells.

Eleutherococcus:

Vopr Onkol. 1986;32(7):21-6. Kupin VI, Polevaia EB. Stimulation of the immunological reactivity of cancer patients by Eleutherococcus extract.

Arzneimittelforschung. 1987 Oct;37(10):1193-6. Bohn B, Nebe CT, Birr C. Flow-cytometric studies with Eleutherococcus senticosus extract as an immunomodulatory agent.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2001 Feb;23(1):107-17. Jeong HJ, Koo HN, Myung NI, Shin MK, Kim JW, Kim DK, Kim KS, Kim HM, Lee YM. Inhibitory effects of mast cell-mediated allergic reactions by cell cultured Siberian Ginseng.

Lactoferrin:

Biometals. 2004 Jun;17(3):225-9. Legrand D, Elass E, Pierce A, Mazurier J. Lactoferrin and host defence: an overview of its immuno-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties.

Biofactors. 2004;21(1-4):69-72. Ishikado A, Imanaka H, Kotani M, Fujita A, Mitsuishi Y, Kanemitsu T, Tamura Y, Makino T. Liposomal lactoferrin induced significant increase of the interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) producibility in healthy volunteers.

Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Mar;5(3):591-9. Hwang SA, Kruzel ML, Actor JK. Lactoferrin augments BCG vaccine efficacy to generate T helper response and subsequent protection against challenge with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Ligusticum:

J Tongji Med Univ. 1992;12(3):146-9. Peng W, Duan SF, Cui LH. Pulmonary Disease Research Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan. Effects of sustained ligustrazine on hemorrheology in patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease.

J Tongji Med Univ. 2001;21(1):6-7, 16. Ruan Q, Deng Z, Song J. Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030. Ligustrazini inhibits endotoxin induced PAI-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Altern Med Rev. 1998 Oct;3(5):338-44. Sinclair S. Green Valley Health, 1305 Pennsylvania Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21742, USA. Chinese herbs: a clinical review of Astragalus, Ligusticum, & Schizandrae.

Ligustrum:

Cancer. 1983 Jul 1;52(1):70-3. Sun Y, Hersh EM, Talpaz M, Lee SL, Wong W, Loo TL, Mavligit GM. University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, College Station, Texas. Immune restoration and/or augmentation of local graft versus host reaction by traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.

J Biol Response Mod. 1983;2(3):227-37. Sun Y, Hersh EM, Lee SL, McLaughlin M, Loo TL, Mavligit GM. Preliminary observations on the effects of the Chinese medicinal herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum on lymphocyte blastogenic responses.

Nutraceutical Mushrooms:

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Oct 8;323(1):133-41. Shao BM, Dai H, Xu W, Lin ZB, Gao XM. Immune receptors for polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum.

Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999 Feb;11(2):151-7. Hirasawa M, Shouji N, Neta T, Fukushima K, Takada K. Department of Microbiology, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Chiba, Japan. Three kinds of antibacterial substances from Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. (Shiitake, an edible mushroom).

Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 May;5(5):811-20. Epub 2004 Dec 2. Zheng R, Jie S, Hanchuan D, Moucheng W. Laboratory of Functional Food and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China. Characterization and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharide from Lentinus edodes.

Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2001 May;17(5):230-8. Wang JC, Hu SH, Lee WL, Tsai LY. Dept of Food Sanitation, Tajen Institute of Technology, 20, Wei-Shin Rd., Shin-Ell Tsun, Yan-Puu Hsiang, Ping Tung 90703, Taiwan. Antimutagenicity of extracts of Hericium erinaceus.

Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2001 Sep;17(9):461-7. Wang JC, Hu SH, Su CH, Lee TM. Dept of Food Sanitation, Tajen Institute of Technology, 20, Wei-Shin Rd., Shin-Erh Villege, Yen-Pu Hsing, Ping Tung, Taiwan. Antitumor and immunoenhancing activities of polysaccharide from culture broth of Hericium spp.

Evid. Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004 Dec;1(3):259-267. Kasai H, He LM, Kawamura M, Yang PT, Deng XW, Munkanta M, Yamashita A, Terunuma H, Hirama M, Horiuchi I, Natori T, Koga T, Amano Y, Yamaguchi N, Ito M. IL-12 Production Induced by Agaricus blazei Fraction H (ABH) Involves Toll-like Receptor (TLR).

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2005 May 10. Kobayashi H, Yoshida R, Kanada Y, Fukuda Y, Yagyu T, Inagaki K, Kondo T, Kurita N, Suzuki M, Kanayama N, Terao T. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Handayama 1-20-1, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 431-3192, Japan. Suppressing effects of daily oral supplementation of beta-glucan extracted from Agaricus blazei Murill on spontaneous and peritoneal disseminated metastasis in mouse model.

Carcinogenesis. 1999 Aug;20(8):1637-40. Kim HS, Kacew S, Lee BM. Division of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Changan-ku, Chunchun-dong, Kyunggi-do, Suwon 440-746, Korea. In vitro chemopreventive effects of plant polysaccharides (Aloe barbadensis miller, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum and Coriolus versicolor).

Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002 Dec;90(4):357-60. Kodama N, Harada N, Nanba H. Dept of Microbial Chemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Japan. A polysaccharide, extract from Grifola frondosa, induces Th-1 dominant responses in carcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice.

J Med Food. 2004 Summer;7(2):141-5. Kodama N, Murata Y, Nanba H. Dept of Microbial Chemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 19-1 Motoyama-kitamachi 4-chome, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan. Administration of a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa stimulates immune function of normal mice.

J Leukoc Biol. 2005 May 13. Lin YL, Liang YC, Lee SS, Chiang BL. Polysaccharide purified from Ganoderma lucidum induced activation and maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells by the NF-kappa B and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1996 Mar;17(2):102-4. Lin IH, Hau DM, Chang YH. Institute of Radiation Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Taiwan, China. Restorative effect of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides against gamma-irradiation-induced spleen injury in mice.

Int J Oncol. 2001 Jan;18(1):81-8. Hsieh TC, Wu JM. Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. Cell growth and gene modulatory activities of Yunzhi (Windsor Wunxi) from mushroom Trametes versicolor in androgen-dependent & androgen-insensitive human prostate cancer cells.

Int Immunopharmacol. 2004 Nov;4(12):1549-57. Ho CY, Lau CB, Kim CF, Leung KN, Fung KP, Tse TF, Chan HH, Chow MS. School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Differential effect of Coriolus versicolor (Yunzhi) extract on cytokine production by murine lymphocytes in vitro.

J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Sep;42(9):976-84. Chu KK, Ho SS, Chow AH. School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT. Coriolus versicolor: a medicinal mushroom with promising immunotherapeutic values.

Olive Leaf/Hydroxytyrsol:

J Pharm Pharmacol. 1999 Aug;51(8):971-4. Bisignano G, Tomaino A, Lo Cascio R, Crisafi G, Uccella N, Saija A. Dept. Farmaco-Biologico, University of Messina, Italy. On the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol.

Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2002 Oct;20(4):293-6. Furneri PM, Marino A, Saija A, Uccella N, Bisignano G. Dept of Microbiological Sciences & Gynecological Sciences, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124, Catania, Italy. In vitro antimycoplasmal activity of oleuropein.

Antiviral Res. 2005 Apr 18. Micol V, Caturla N, Perez-Fons L, Mas V, Perez L, Estepa A. Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, E-03202-Elche, Alicante, Spain. The olive leaf extract exhibits antiviral activity against viral haemorrhagic septicaemia rhabdovirus (VHSV).

Mol Cell Biochem. 2001 Jan;217(1-2):35-41. Gutierrez VR, de la Puerta R, Catala A. La Grasa Institute, (C.S.I.C.), Seville, Spain. The effect of tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein on the non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes.

Oregano Oil:

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Oct;47(10):3240-6. Bergonzelli GE, Donnicola D, Porta N, Corthesy-Theulaz IE. Nestle Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland. Essential oils as components of a diet-based approach to management of Helicobacter infection.

J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jun 2;52(11):3309-12. Sokmen M, Serkedjieva J, Daferera D, Gulluce M, Polissiou M, Tepe B, Akpulat HA, Sahin F, Sokmen A. Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Art & Science, Cumhuriyet University, 58 140 Sivas, Turkey. In vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities of the essential oil and various extracts from herbal parts and callus cultures of Origanum acutidens.

Mol Cell Biochem. 2001 Dec;228(1-2):111-7. Manohar V, Ingram C, Gray J, Talpur NA, Echard BW, Bagchi D, Preuss HG. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. Antifungal activities of Origanum oil against Candida albicans.

J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2004;24(4):400-3. Liao F, Huang Q, Yang Z, Xu H, Gao Q. Department of Microbiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. Experimental study on the antibacterial effect of Origanum volatile oil on dysentery bacilli in vivo and in vitro.

Pine Bark:

Am J Chin Med. 2001;29(3-4):469-75. Kim HC, Healey JM. Utah State University, Logan 84322, USA.  Effects of pine bark extract administered to immunosuppressed adult mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum.

Phytomedicine. 2002 Jul;9(5):414-8. Feng WH, Wei HL, Liu GT.Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union of Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Effect of Pycnogenol on the toxicity of heart, bone marrow and immune organs as induced by antitumor drugs.

Phytother Res. 2003 Jun;17(6):671-4. Sharma SC, Sharma S, Gulati OP. Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity College, Dublin-2 Ireland. Pycnogenol prevents haemolytic injury in G6PD deficient human erythrocytes.

Free Radic Biol Med. 2004 Mar 15;36(6):811-22. Grimm T, Schafer A, Hogger P. Institut fur Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie, Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universitat, Wurzburg, Germany. Antioxidant activity and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases by metabolites of maritime pine bark extract (pycnogenol).

Leuk Res. 2005 Jun;29(6):685-92. Epub 2005 Jan 19. Huang WW, Yang JS, Lin CF, Ho WJ, Lee MR. Dept. of Biology, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC. Pycnogenol induces differentiation and apoptosis in human promyeloid leukemia HL-60 cells.

Probiotics:

Int J Food Microbiol. 2001 Nov 8;70(3):213-20. Adawi D, Ahrne S, Molin G. Department of Surgery, Experimental Research, Malmo University Hospital, Sweden. Effects of different probiotic strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium on bacterial translocation and liver injury in an acute liver injury model.

Curr Issues Intest Microbiol. 2003 Sep;4(2):53-60. Blum S, Schiffrin EJ. Nestle Research Centre, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland. Intestinal microflora and homeostasis of the mucosal immune response: implications for probiotic bacteria?

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr;18(2):255-70. Stagg AJ, Hart AL, Knight SC, Kamm MA. Antigen Presentation Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Northwick Park Campus, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, Middlesex, UK. Microbial-gut interactions in health and disease. Interactions between dendritic cells and bacteria in the regulation of intestinal immunity.

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2004 May-Aug;17(2):127-34. Cross ML. Human Nutrition and Health Research group, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Immune-signaling by orally-delivered probiotic bacteria: effects on common mucosal immunoresponses and protection at distal mucosal sites.

Trends Microbiol. 2004 Dec;12(12):562-8. Noverr MC, Huffnagle GB. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0642, USA. Does the microbiota regulate immune responses outside the gut?

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2004 Oct;4(8):889-96. Marteau P, Seksik P, Lepage P, Dore J. Gastroenterology Department, European Hospital Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hopitaux de Paris & Paris V University, France. Cellular and physiological effects of probiotics and prebiotics.

Rhodiola:

Medicina (Kaunas). 2004;40(7):614-9. Kucinskaite A, Briedis V, Savickas A. Dept of Pharmaceutical Technology & Pharmacy Organization, Kaunas University of Medicine, A. Mickeviciaus 9, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania. Experimental analysis of therapeutic properties of Rhodiola rosea L. & its possible application in medicine.

Silymarin:

Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Jan 1;67(1):175-81. Kang JS, Jeon YJ, Park SK, Yang KH, Kim HM. Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Taejon, South Korea. Protection against lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis and inhibition of interleukin-1beta and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by silymarin.

J Immunol. 1999 Dec 15;163(12):6800-9. Manna SK, Mukhopadhyay A, Van NT, Aggarwal BB. Dept of Molecular Oncology, Cytokine Research Laboratory, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA. Silymarin suppresses TNF-induced activation of NF-kappa B, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and apoptosis.

Vanadium:

Annu Rev Nutr. 2004 May 21; McGuinness OP. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. Defective Glucose Homeostasis During Infection.