茯苓為中醫方劑中使用很廣的藥材，近年來，茯苓被認為具有抗腫瘤、調
節老鼠及人類 Ｂ 淋巴球分泌免疫球蛋白的功能。本實驗則在探討茯苓之
50﹪熱乙醇萃取液對人體單核球分泌第一介白質(IL-1)、第六介白質(IL-
6)、alpha-腐瘤素(TNF-alpha)、beta-轉型生長素(TGF-beta)等四種胞泌
素之調節作用。IL-1、IL-6、TNF-alpha為多功能的胞泌素，在調節免疫反
應、促進血球新生及增強發炎反應方面扮演重要地位。反之TGF-beta為某
些免疫作用之抑制因子，如抑制巨噬細胞之活化、降低發炎誘導物的分泌
，為某些免疫反應的負面訊息。實驗結果顯示，離體下培養之單核球以茯
苓萃取物處理 24 小時後，顯著地促進單核球分泌IL-1(p<0.05)，處理3
小時後顯著地促進單核球分泌 IL-6、TNF-alpha(P<0.05)；反之，處理3
小時後，對 TGF-beta 的分泌即具有顯著性之抑制效果 (p<0.05 )。由於
茯苓促進誘導免疫反應之胞泌素(IL-1、IL-6、TNF-alpha) 的分泌，但是
降低抑制免疫反應之胞泌素(TGF-beta)的分泌，故茯苓在人體內可能有增
強人體之免疫功能。實驗進一步將茯苓萃取物以逆相色層分析管柱，依極
性大小分成六個部分，此六部分分別與單核球共同培養，結果顯示 V、VI
部分顯著促進 TNF-alpha 及抑制 TGF-beta 分泌、II～VI 部分顯著促進
IL-6分泌，而每個部分皆促進IL-1分泌，顯示對不同胞泌素而言，調節其
分泌之活性成份可能不相同。將V、VI部分以TLC及HPLC分析，發現其內成
份之極性和茯苓主成分之一—麥角固醇極相近，這種 ergosterol-like
compound在人體免疫系統中可能扮演極重要之調節作用。實驗進一步發現
茯苓可拮抗免疫抑制劑Dexamethasone抑制單核球分泌 TNF-alpha 之作用
，因此茯苓於人體內或許可以減輕類固醇在免疫反應方面引起之副作用。

Fu-Ling, a widely used Chinese herbal drug, showed anti-tumor
and immunoregulatory activities in recent research reports. In
the present study, the possible effects of Fu-Ling on the IL-1
beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta secretion by human peripheral
monocytes were investigated. IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were
the mutifunctional cytokines which regulated the immune response,
stimulated hematopoiesis and augmented inflammatory response. TGF
-beta, by contrast, suppressed certain immune functions including
macrophage activation, cytokine-secretion and inflammatory
response in general. Data obtaining from this study suggested
that 50% hot ethanol extract of Fu-Ling significantly enhanced IL
-1beta secretion ( P＜0.05 ) by monocytes within 24 hrs under in
vitro condition. Under the same experimental condition, IL-6 and
TNF-alpha secretion were significantly enhanced within 3 hrs ( P
＜0.05 ), but TGF-beta secretion was significantly suppressed
within 3 hrs. The results implied that Fu-Ling might boost rather
than suppress the immune functions. The active ingredients in Fu-
Ling extract were partially purified using a reverse-phase
chromatography on the basis of their diversity in the
hydrophobicity. The ingredient(s) that enhanced TNF-alpha and
suppressed TGF-beta secretion was localized at peak V and peak VI
( relatively high-hydrophobicity ). The ingredient(s) that
enhanced IL-6 secretion was eluted in peak II to VI and the
ingredient(s) that enhanced IL-1 secretion was separated in all
six peaks. The ingredients in peak V and VI were futher analyzed
by TLC and HPLC.The results suggested that the major
ingredient(s) in peak V and VI might be an ergosterol-like
compound. Finally, the experimental data suggested that the Fu-
Ling extract might antagonize the immunosuppressive effect of
Dexamethasone.
Fu-Ling, a widely used Chinese herbal drug, showed anti-tumor