Immunity-Enhancing Effect of Extracts Extracted from Leaves of Rubia hexaphylla, Cymbopogon citratus, and Dioscorea japonica for Sustainable Healthy Life

Abstract

The COVID-19 era requires research and development into eco-friendly immune technologies in human life. However, such research is limited because of a lack of interest. Therefore, in this study, sub-critical extracts extracted from Rubia hexaphylla leaves, Cymbopogon citratus, and Dioscorea japonica with physiological effects were tested for their ability to enhance immunitye and antioxidant activity in the body. Cell viability experiments, cytokine secretion induction experiments, nitrogen oxide induction experiments, and cytokine content measurements in mouse serum and NK activation experiments were conducted to verify the effects of improving immunitye and antioxidant activity in the body. First, the cell survival rate of all samples was found to be over 95%. Second, it was confirmed that the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in the macrophages of all samples were increased, especially for RCD 3, at concentrations of 1000 μg/mL. Third, the nitrogen oxide content of all samples was increased in the nitrogen oxide induction evaluation, especially for RCD 3, at the highest concentration of 1000 μg/mL. Fourth, for RCD 3, IL-2 and TNF-γ were the highest measured in the measurement of the cytokine content in the mouse serum. Fifth, in the NK activation experiments, the positive control group of the samples was all found to have higher activity than the negative control group, with more than 60% cell activity in RCD 3.