During the pandemic, some people, despite being in the same environment, got infected while others stayed healthy. Among those infected, some experienced severe symptoms while others showed no discomfort. The main reason for these differences is closely related to the body’s immune system, which can be seen as the body’s “natural doctor.”
What is immunity?
Immunity refers to the body’s ability to resist external invasions and maintain internal stability. As a self-defense mechanism, the immune process enables the body to recognize and eliminate foreign invaders, as well as handle aging, damage, death, or mutation of its own cells. People with strong immunity can quickly and accurately combat invading viruses and destroy them. On the other hand, those with weak immunity may require a significant number of immune cells to be “sacrificed” before the body can slowly make progress in fighting off the infection. If other complications enter during this time, the recovery from the disease may be slow or lead to other undesirable outcomes.
Signs of weakened immunity?
In recent years, immunity and disease prevention have become hot topics. Immunity acts as the body’s protective shield, enhancing self-healing abilities and disease resistance. However, many symptoms in daily life indicate that the body’s immunity may be compromised. So, what are the signs of weakened immunity?
- Frequent colds that are persistent and hard to recover from.
- Poor digestive function, making the body more vulnerable and causing discomfort.
- Slow healing of wounds, recurring ulcers, etc.
- Constantly feeling in a sub-healthy state, experiencing fatigue that is difficult to relieve through rest.
In the context of the ongoing pandemic, how to boost one’s immunity to fight against environmental viruses and protect health has become an increasingly important concern. Plant extracts, due to their natural and clean characteristics, are widely used as functional ingredients in daily supplements and healthcare products. These plant extracts play a significant role in boosting the immune system. Below are some plant extract products that show excellent performance in enhancing immunity. Let’s take a look!
Echinacea Purpurea
Echinacea Purpurea, also known as Purple Coneflower, is the above-ground part of the coneflower plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to North America and has been used by indigenous Americans to treat various ailments, including insect bites, tonsillitis, headaches, colds, and other injuries. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of Echinacea-related dietary supplements in the United States have increased by 34%. China, as the major exporting country, is facing a supply shortage. Immune-boosting treatments, led by Echinacea and elderberry, have gained significant attention, making Echinacea a popular herb internationally.
Current research suggests that the immune-regulating effects of Echinacea purpurea are primarily achieved through enhancing the body’s antioxidant capacity, reducing inflammation, and boosting immune function. Echinacea extract helps strengthen the body’s second and third lines of defense, particularly by providing “ammunition” for cellular and humoral immunity. This enables a rapid response to threats, thereby reinforcing the body’s immune defense system. This product can be used in pharmaceutical health supplements and animal feed.
Shiitake Mushroom Extract
Shiitake mushrooms, also known as winter mushrooms, fragrant mushrooms, or North mushrooms, are the fruiting bodies of the white mushroom family. They can grow singly, in clusters, or in groups, with the fruiting bodies being medium to large in size. Shiitake mushrooms are a highly nutritious food, rich in protein, low in fat, containing polysaccharides, various amino acids, and vitamins. As the second most consumed edible mushroom in the world, shiitake mushrooms are also one of China’s specialties, often referred to as a “mountain delicacy” in local traditions. In China, they are recognized as a medicinal and edible fungus.
According to a study sponsored by Integria Healthcare, a synergistic formula containing specific proportions of shiitake mushroom, maitake, and reishi extracts was found to enhance immune-stimulating effects compared to the effects of individual extracts. This is primarily due to the synergistic immune-modulating effects of β-glucans present in different mushroom extracts. Shiitake mushroom polysaccharides, extracted from carefully selected fruiting bodies, are effective active ingredients that can improve the phagocytic function of mouse peritoneal macrophages. They also promote the production of T lymphocytes and enhance their cytotoxic activity. These polysaccharides can be used as additive ingredients in various health supplements, food products, and seasonings.
Cordyceps Extract
Cordyceps, also known as winter worm summer grass, is a composite of the fruiting body of the Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., a fungus in the family Clavicipitaceae, parasitizing the larvae of moths from the family Hepialidae. It is a precious tonic herb in ancient Chinese folk medicine. With nutritional content higher than ginseng, it can be used both as a medicine and as food, making it a top-tier delicacy. Whether used for medicinal or culinary purposes, it possesses high nutritional value.
Cordyceps has immune-regulating properties. Pharmacological studies show that Cordyceps can increase the phagocytic index and percentage of phagocytes, having a regulatory effect on the immune system. It can promote the proliferation of lymphocytes and activate the activity of phagocytic cells.
Reishi Extract
Reishi , also known as red reishi, red mushroom, lingzhi grass, and wood reishi, is the fruiting body of a fungus in the family Polyporaceae. It is a traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom, with the highest medicinal efficacy found in those growing in the forest, although it is now also cultivated in artificial greenhouses, mainly in humid areas. Reishi, along with ginseng, cordyceps, and other herbs, is known as one of the “Nine Immortal Herbs of China.” It has a history of consumption spanning thousands of years and has created a revered cultural legacy known as the “Reishi Culture.”
Scientific research has proven that reishi extract, along with its active ingredients such as polysaccharides, small molecular proteins, and triterpenoids, can enhance the function of various immune cells in both the innate and acquired immune systems. It also promotes the secretion of cytokines and antibodies. The immune-boosting effects of reishi are particularly significant when the immune system is weakened.
Garlic Extract
Garlic is a perennial herb from the Allium genus of the Amaryllidaceae family. Its bulbs are spherical to slightly flattened, typically composed of numerous fleshy, clove-like small bulbs tightly arranged, with several layers of white to purple membranous skin covering them. Garlic is primarily cultivated in Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Sichuan, Shanxi, and other regions of China, though it is originally native to Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. It was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty and is now cultivated worldwide. As early as 1500 BC, Egyptian medical texts documented the use of garlic to treat symptoms such as headaches, sore throats, and physical weakness. In China and Japan, garlic has been used for centuries to treat high blood pressure, and it has long been renowned for its excellent antibacterial properties.
The active compounds in garlic extract include garlic polysaccharides, allicin, and alliin, which contribute to its antioxidant, antiviral, and immune-boosting effects. Allicin (chemical name: diallyl thiosulfinate) is a key ingredient that helps regulate inflammatory responses in the body and reduces the damage caused by free radicals to cells. Garlic extract exhibits a strong bactericidal effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. On February 4, 2021, the European Union released regulation (EU) 2021/129, continuing the approval of garlic extract as an active substance. In addition to its use in health supplements and medicine, garlic extract is also widely applied in animal feed.
