Effect of velvet antler on the immune activity of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice

To study the antioxidant and immune protection activity of velvet antler (VA) in cyclophosphamide-induced immunocompromised mice, BALB/c mice were intragastrically administered 100, 300, or 500 mg/(kg·d) VA for 30 days, and were intraabdominally injected with cyclophosphamide to create a hypoimmune murine model. Cellular immunity, macrophage phagocytic activity, natural killer (NK) cell activity, white blood cell count, splenic lymphocyte subsets and the mRNA expression levels of serum cytokines were analysed. We found that the IC50 for removing 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), OH, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals of VA were 0.476, 4.33, and 37.92 mg/mL, respectively. VA could enhance innate and adaptive immunity of mice by improving cellular immunity, macrophage phagocytic ability, and NK cell activity; promoting the production of IL-4, IFN-γ, TNF-α and other cytokines; increasing the content and ratio of lymphocyte subsets. These results indicate that VA has good antioxidant activity and can improve the immune function of cyclophosphamide-induced immunodeficient mice.