Lab Anim Res.  2014 Dec;30(4):161-168. 10.5625/lar.2014.30.4.161.

Onion peel water extracts enhance immune status in forced swimming rat model

• Lee HA
• Han SJ
• Hong S
• Kim DW
• Oh GW
• Kim O

• KMID: 1737417
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2014.30.4.161

Abstract

Onion peel contains a high concentration of quercetin and other flavonoids. In this study, the potential immune-enhancing effects of an onion peel water extract (OPE) supplement were investigated by the rat forced swimming test. OPE was prepared using hot water. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a pellet diet for 1 week and were then randomly divided into six groups: normal control (NC), forced swimming control (FSC), positive control (quercetin 20 mg/kg), and three groups administered 4, 20, or 100 mg/kg of OPE. Oral drug administration was conducted daily for 4 weeks. All rats, except those of NC group, were forced to swim in water and were considered exhausted when they failed to rise to the water surface to breathe within a 7-s period. Blood lymphocyte counts, immune organ weights, histopathological analysis, and serum interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-12 levels were determined. OPE-treated rats consumed more food and had an increased thymic cortex to medulla ratio than that observed in FSC group rats (P<0.05). The area of the white pulp in the spleens of OPE-treated group rats was increased compared with that in FSC group rats (P<0.05). Furthermore, blood lymphocyte numbers and IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-12 concentrations were significantly higher in OPE-fed groups than in FSC group (P<0.05). These results suggest that an OPE supplement can improve the immune status by increasing the number of immune-related cells and specific cytokine levels.

Keyword

Allium cepa; onion peel; water extract; immune stimulation; cytokines

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral
Animals
Cytokines
Diet
Flavonoids
Humans
Interferons
Interleukin-12
Interleukins
Lymphocyte Count
Male
Models, Animal*
Onions*
Organ Size
Physical Exertion
Quercetin
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spleen
Swimming*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Water*
Cytokines
Flavonoids
Interferons
Interleukin-12
Interleukins
Quercetin
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Water

Figure

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  Figure 1 The effect of OPE on the thymic cortex/medulla ratio (%). NC: normal control group, FSC: forced swimming control group, PC: forced swimming control group receiving 20 mg/kg quercetin, OPE-4: forced swimming test group receiving 4 mg/kg OPE, OPE-20: forced swimming test group receiving 20 mg/kg OPE, OPE-100: forced swimming test group receiving 100 mg/kg OPE. Values are mean±SD. *Statistically significant difference compared with forced swimming control group (P<0.05).

• 

  Figure 2 The effect of OPE on the area of spleen white pulp. NC: normal control group, FSC: forced swimming control group, PC: forced swimming control group receiving 20 mg/kg quercetin, OPE-4: forced swimming test group receiving 4 mg/kg OPE, OPE-20: forced swimming test group receiving 20 mg/kg OPE, OPE-100: forced swimming test group receiving 100 mg/kg OPE. Values are mean±SD. *Statistically significant difference compared with forced swimming control group (P<0.05).

• 

  Figure 3 The effect of OPE on lymphocyte counts. NC: normal control group, FSC: forced swimming control group, PC: forced swimming control group receiving 20 mg/kg quercetin, OPE-4: forced swimming test group receiving 4 mg/kg OPE, OPE-20: forced swimming test group receiving 20 mg/kg OPE, OPE-100: forced swimming test group receiving 100 mg/kg OPE. Values are mean±SD. *Statistically significant difference compared with forced swimming control group (P<0.05).

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