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This study was performed to investigate the potential of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) as a immune-modulating functional food by assay of splenocytes proliferation and induction of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4) in vitro. When mouse splenocytes were exposed to various concentration (0.16, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.50 ㎎/㎖) of pear methanol extracts (P-M) without mitogens, splenocytes proliferation (SP) was significantly increased. Also, SP to mitogens, concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were significantly increased by P-M when compared with controls. When splenocytes were cultured with P-M in the presence of Con A, cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-4) levels in culture supernatant were significantly enhanced in a dose-dependent manner except 2.5 ㎎/㎖ when compared with control group. Therefore, our study suggest that the pear has the potential of being an immune-modulating functional food.
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