Objective  To compare immunomodulatory effects of sporocarp and fermentative hyphae of Phylloporia ribis in normal ICR mice.

  Methods  The experimental mice were orally administrated with low-, moderate-, and high-dose suspension (1.25, 2.50, and 5.00 g/kg·body weight) of fermentative hyphae and sporocarp extracted from Phylloporia ribis, respectively for 30 days consecutively. The cellular immunoregulation of the mice was verified with delay-type hypersensitivity (DTH) test and proliferation and transformation of spleen lymphocyte. The humoral immunoregulation was assessed with antibody-producing cell and serum hemolysin level test. Nonspecific immune regulation was monitored with carbon clearance, macrophage phagocytosis test and activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Spleen index and thymus index of the mice were also determined.

  Results  Significantly increased degree of swelling of toes was observed in all sporocarp groups and moderate- and high-dose fermentative hyphae groups compared to that in the control group (all P < 0.01). Lymphocyte transformation ability was obviously increased in the mice of sporocarp groups and high-dose fermentative hyphae group (P < 0.05 for all). Compared to that of control group, the number of antibody-producing cell of all sporocarp and moderate- and high-dose fermentative hyphae groups increased significantly (all P < 0.01). The carbon clearance capability of sporocarp groups and high-dose fermentative hyphae group and NK cell activity of sporocarp and moderate- and high-dose fermentative hyphae groups were promoted significantly (all P < 0.01). The percentage and index of peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis of moderate- and high-dose sporocarp groups and high-dose fermentative hyphae group were elevated remarkably.

  Conclusion  Sporocarp and fermentative hyphae of Phylloporia ribis could promote, at certain dosage, cellular and humoral immunity and nonspecific immunocompetence in mice; the humoral immunomodulatory effect of sporocarp is stronger than that of fermentative hyphae, while the nonspecific immunomodulatory effect of fermentative hyphae is stronger than that of sporocarp.