Ethnopharmacological communicationThe effects of Rhizoma drynariae on interleukin-2 and T-lymphocyte levels in rats after severe head injury

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Rhizoma drynariae on the levels of interleukin-2(IL-2) and T-lymphocyte subset in rats with severe head injury (SHI).Methods72 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, model group, and R. drynariae group. The experimental group received intragastrical infusions of with aqueous R. drynariae extract four hours after SHI while the other groups were administered with equivalent volumes of physiological saline. Infusions were administered to the 3 groups once a day for 7 d. IL-2 and T-lymphocyte (CD3, CD4, CD8) levels were measured at 24, 72, and 168 h after initial infusion.ResultsThe levels of IL-2 and CD4 T cells reduced obviously after 24 h in the model group (P<0.05), but recovered to the levels of the control group after 72 h, and remained elevated after 168 h. In the R. drynariae group, IL-2 and CD4 levels were did not decrease while the level of CD8 T cells was reduced significantly (P<0.05).ConclusionsR. drynariae can protect against immune dysfunction or improve immunity in rats with severe head injury (SHI).

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (68KB)Download full-size image72 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups