Effect of juzentaihoto on phagocytes

The effect of one of Kampo prescriptions, Tsumura Juzentaihoto (TJ-48), on phagocytes was investigated in BALB/c mice.The oral administration of TJ-48 for 3 to 5 days resulted in the enhanced phagocytic activity of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and bone marrow cells (BMC) and the maximum increase was observed at 2 g/kg/day of TJ-48. The enhanced phagocytosis was maintained for 5 days after the withdrawal of TJ-48 and returned to the basal level on day 7. A large increase of chemiluminescence was obtained in PEG from mice given TJ-48 orally for 7 days. Moreover, TJ-48 showed the direct activatingeffect on the phagocytosis of PEC and BMC in in vitro assay.