Table 5.

Immunomodulatory activities of Yin tonifying herbs

HERBS	IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITIES	REFS
Fructus Ligustri	Methanolic extract or petroleum ether fraction enhanced Con A-stimulated proliferation of mouse splenocytes in vitro and ex vivo	[4,36]
Radix Asparagi	Water extract inhibited TNF-α secretion by suppressing IL-2 secretion from astrocytes	[39]
Radix Ophiopogonis	Water extract inhibited xylene-induced ear swelling and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice Active ingredients (ruscogenin and ophiopogonin D) decreased zymosan-induced adhesion of HL60 cells to ECV304 cells	[40]
Herba Dendrobii	Active ingredients (sesquiterpenes) showed a co-mitogenic effect on Con A and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse splenocytes	[41,42]
Radix Oryza	Ethanolic extract of black rice (the fruit of Oryza sativa) decreased the extents of airway inflammation and hyper-response in OVA-immunized and aerolized OVA-challenged mice Ethanolic extract of black rice decreased various cytokine levels in the supernatant of cultured splenocytes and suppressed the plasma levels of OVA-specific IgG and total IgE in OVA-immunized and challenged mice	[43]