Pharmacological Study on Agkistrodon blomhoffii blomhoffii BOIE. II. Effect of 50% Ethanolic Extract on Phagocytic Activity of Mouse Reticuloendothelial System

Effect of a 50% ethanolic extract ([M]) from dried whole body of Agkistrodon blomhoffii blomhoffii Boie on a phagocytic activity of reticuloendothelial system was studied by the carbon clearance method in mice. The clearance-rate of carbon was significantly shortened 1 h after the oral administration of [M] (250 or 500 mg/kg, one time/d for 3d). [M] activated the phagocytosis of carbon by macrophage (M phi) in the spleen and the phagocytosis of latex by peritoneal M phi. These results suggested that [M] may promote the phagocytic activity on the reticuloendothelial system in mice and has a stimulatory effect on M phi.