2004-08-012024-05-17https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/690481摘要：山藥(Dioscorea opposita Thunb.)在許多亞洲國家當作滋養強壯的藥用植物具有悠久的歷史，它的另一用途則是作為食品。我國傳統中醫藥典籍記載山藥的適應症相當廣泛，包括減輕疲勞、促進食慾、治療腹瀉以及增強體能與免疫力等。成分分析山藥以及同屬(Dioscorea)的其他類似常用植物，顯示其根部含有許多營養成分如醣類、蛋白質、維生素、礦物質和類固醇皂&#33527;(steroidal saponin)等。由於含有相當量的類固醇皂&#33527;，一般相信部份山藥的生物活性可能係類固醇皂&#33527;的藥理作用所致，例如有研究報告指出山藥類固醇皂&#33527;dioscin and protodioscin對某些腫瘤細胞具有毒殺效果。然而，雖然山藥被宣稱具有改善免疫力的功效，截至目前為止，仍缺乏相關的研究以明瞭其免疫調節之功效。除了藥用以外，山藥在當前台灣是一相當普遍的保健食品，並且被推廣為一常見的藥膳食材。因此，探討山藥成分是否具有免疫調節作用是一值得重視的課題。本研究計畫的目的旨在探討山藥所含主要皂&#33527;成份diosgenin的免疫調節作用。<br> Abstract: Chinese yam root (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) has been used in Asia for millennia as a tonic herb medicine, as well as a food supplement. The therapeutic benefits of this traditional Chinese medicine are suggested for indications including chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, overall weakness, diarrhea, immune deficiency, etc. The root of Chinese yam and several other commonly consumed related Dioscorea herbs contains carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and steroidal saponins. It has been speculated that the steroidal saponins may contribute to some of the biological effects produced by Chinese yam. For example, scientific studies have found that the steroidal saponins dioscin and protodioscin were cytotoxic to certain tumor cell lines. Although yam root is claimed to be beneficial for improving immunity, to date little is known with respect to its effect on the immune system. As yam root is currently a popular “healthy food” in Taiwan, it is critical to understand whether it possesses, if any, immunomodulatory activity. Accordingly, study of the influence of yam extract on immune function is a focus of “The National Science and Technology Program for Agricultural Biotechnology”. Its recent progress report indicated that yam root extract inhibited maturation of dendritic cells. Moreover, yam mucopolysaccharide was reported to enhance cytokine production in murine peritoneal macrophages. Together these results provide evidence of immunomodulation by Chinese yam, yet its detailed effects deserve more investigations. Thus, the objective of this project is to study the immunomodulatory effect of diosgenin which is the primary sapogenin contained in Chinese yam root.山藥植物類固醇免疫調節T細胞細胞激素基因表現Chinese yamdiosgeninplant steroidT cellcytokinegene expression