Abstract: Our previous study showed that polysaccharides from Salvia chinensis Benth.(PSSC) inhibited the proliferation of H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cells in Kunming mice.The current study was designed to further understand the effects of PSSC on immune organs and anti-tumor activities of immune cells on H22 tumor-bearing mice.In this study,H22 cells were subcutaneously transplanted into right flanks of Kunming mice.Flow cytometry analysis, immunohistochemical staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to evaluate the immune potency of CD4+ T cells,CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells (NK cells).The results reveled that PSSC increased spleen/thymus indexes and Con A/LPS-induced spleenocyte proliferation in tumor-bearing mice.Ratios of CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells,spleens and lymph modes and numbers of CD8+ T and NK cells infiltrated into transplanted tumor tissues were elevated in response to PSSC.In CD4+ T cells,PSSC provoked excretions of immunostimulatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-2 and suppressed those of immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10.These findings collectively suggested that PSSC were capable of enhancing anti-tumor immune response in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

Key words: Salvia chinensis Benth, polysaccharides, H22 tumor-bearing mice, anti-tumor immunomodulatory effect