Combined effects of fungal β-glucan and Zataria multiflora essential oil on phagocytosis in Balb/C mice

Introduction: natural substances have been used since ancient times for treatment of a range of diseases and have represented stimulatory effects on the function of innate immunity. the purposes of this study were to prepare β-glucan from s. cerevisiae and to assess the efficacy of purified β-glucan, zataria multiflora (z. multiflora) essential oil and their complex on phagocytosis in balb/c mice.methods: β-glucan was purified during three stages including alkaline-acid treatment (s1), deae sephacel chromatography (s2) and con-a sepharose chromatography (s3). z. multiflora essential oil was extracted by water-distillation using clevenger-type apparatus. the chemical composition of z. multiflora essential oil was analyzed by a gc/ms system. β-glucan (15 mg/kg), z. multiflora essential oil (100 mg/kg) and their complex (the same doses) were injected into balb/c mice intraperitoneally (ip). the blood samples were collected at days 4 and 7 after injection and phagocytic activity was assayed by chemiluminescence method.results: the results showed that the ratios of mannan to β-glucan were 70.3 to 29.7 for s1, 71.9 to 28.1 for s2 and zero to 100 for s3 (purified β-glucan). the major components of z. multiflora were carvacrol (61%) and thymol (25%). phagocytosis index means exhibited significant increases at day 4 (246%, 165% and 367%) and day 7 (242%, 235% and 309%) in mice treated with purified β-glucan, z. multiflora essence, and their complex when compared to control mice, respectively (p < 0.05).conclusion: the results suggest that the complex of β-glucan and z. multiflora oil might be used to immunize individuals as prophylactic and/or therapeutic adjuvant in immunocompromised subjects.