Effects on immune response of antidiabetic ingredients from white-skinned sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Nutrition. 2005 Mar;21(3):358-62. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2004.11.001.

Abstract

Objectives: The present report describes the effects of antidiabetic ingredients from white-skinned sweet potato (AWSSP) on the immune response of human cells.

Methods: We studied the effects of inactive Staphylococcus aureus cells coated with AWSSP on phagocytic activity, phagosome-lysosome fusion, and superoxide anion release by human leukocytes in vitro.

Results: AWSSP increased phagocytic activity and phagosome-lysosome fusion in neutrophils and monocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, AWSSP had no significant effect on superoxide anion release (O2-) from human neutrophils.

Conclusions: These results show that AWSSP is useful in the prevention and improvement of diabetic symptoms by stimulating human immunity and that Ipomoea batatas L. is a beneficial food because it increases immune activity in addition to its antidiabetic effects.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Fusion / methods
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Immunity / drug effects*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Ipomoea batatas / immunology*
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Phagosomes / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / immunology*
  • Reference Values
  • Superoxides / metabolism

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Superoxides