During COVID-19, facing the same virus, some people were infected, while others were uninfected, and for the infected, some were seriously ill, while others were without any signs or symptoms, this benefits from your immunity, it can said that immunity is the internal doctor.

What is immunity?

Immunity refers to the ability of the body to resist foreign invasion and maintain the stability of the internal environment. As the body's epidemic prevention mechanism, immune process also can identify and eliminate foreign invasion, deal with aging, injured, dead or mutated cells. People with strong immunity can  fight against and destroy invading viruses accurately and quickly; while others with weak immunity may slowly advance the "battle" on the condition that a large number of immune cells are being "killed". If other complications set in, it will cause slow recovery from the disease, or even other adverse consequences.

The signs of immune suppression?

In recent years, epidemic prevention and immunity have become the most concerned topics. Immunity is like the body's umbrella, helping to improve self-healing and enhance disease resistance. However, there are many symptoms in life that have implied that something wrong with your immunity. What are the signs of immune suppression?

1. Suffer from influenza frequently, which is not easy to recover persistently and repeatedly;

2. Weak and fragile gastrointestinal function with discomfort;

3. Longer healing time of wounds, recurrence of ulcers, etc;

4. Sub-healthy, feeling tired and difficult to relieve through rest.

At present, regular epidemic prevention and control measures are implemented, how to improve your immunity, fight against external environment viruses and protect your health attract more and more attention. Plant extract products, as raw materials of functional products due to their natural and clean characteristics, play an important role in daily nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical health products. The following plant extract products have outstanding performance in improving human immunity, as you can see here!

1、Elderberry

Sambucus williamsii Hance, a deciduous shrub of Sambucus chinensis of Caprifoliaceae, is also known as Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Aesculus polyphylla and Tiegusan. Sambucus williamsii Hance contains various nutrients and active ingredients, such as vitamin A, C, protein, dietary fiber, anthocyanin and flavonoids (mainly in flowers), which can be used as medicine from root to flower, with the effects of moistening lung, relieving cough, removing dampness and clearing heat.

In many consumer perceptions, the main effect of Sambucus williamsii Hance is to treat colds and flu, which has been used for thousands of years in folk treatment of colds and coughs and is even known as the "immune protector" in Europe, where they are used to making jams, juices and beverage from Sambucus williamsii fruit. A large human clinical trial at the University of Giessen in Germany found that Sambucus williamsii extract could reduce the risk of air travelers catching colds, which was mainly related to the high levels of anthocyanins and magnesium in Sambucus williamsii Hance.

2、Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea (Linn.) Moench, the above ground part of the Compositae plant Echinacea, a wild flower native to North America was used by indigenous Americans to treat different injuries and diseases, including poisonous insect bites, tonsillitis, headaches, colds and other injuries. Since COVID-19, the sales volume of Echinacea related dietary supplement products in the United States has increased by 34%. As a major exporter, China is in short supply. Immunotherapy led by echinacea and Sambucus williamsii Hance has been highly valued in the Medical Association and Echinacea has also become an international popular herb.

Current studies suggest that Echinacea purpurea's immunomodulatory effect is mainly achieved through the antioxidant capacity, reduces inflammation and enhance immune function. Echinacea purpurea extract can make the body’s second and third immune defense lines more "indestructible", especially for cellular immunity and humoral immunity to provide "ammunition supply", so that they can identify the "enemy" quickly and strengthen the body's immune defense line. The product can be used in medical health products and animal feed.

3、Shii-take

Lentinus edodes, also known as winter mushroom, fragrant mushroom, northern mushroom, the cotyledons of the fungus Shiitake in the family of white mushroom, solitary, clumped or grouped, with medium to slightly large cotyledons. Lentinus edodes is a fungus food with high protein, low fat, polysaccharide, multiple amino acids and multiple vitamins. As the second largest edible fungus in the world, it is also one of the specialties of China and is known as "mountain treasure" in folk and is a dual-use fungus in China.

Based on a study sponsored by Integria Healthcare, it was concluded that a synergistic formulation with certain ratios of extracts from Grifola frondosa, Ganoderma lucidum and Lentinula edodes improved immunostimulatory effects compared to the addition of the three individual extracts, mainly due to the synergistic effect of the immunomodulatory effects of β-glucans in mushroom extracts among different mushrooms. Lentinan polysaccharide is an effective active component extract from that selected fruit body of Lentinula edodes, which can improve the phagocytosis function of mouse abdominal macrophages, can also promote the production and killing activity of T lymphocyte, and can be used as an additive raw material of various health products, food and condiments.

4、Cordyceps sinensis

Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc is a complex of the stroma and the corpse of the larva parasitized on the larva of Hepialidae insects, which is a kind of rare and nourishing medicinal material in ancient China, its nutritional content is higher than that of ginseng. It can be used as medicine or edible as a first-class delicacy and with extremely high nutritional value.

Cordyceps sinensis can regulate the immune system. Current pharmacological research shows that Cordyceps sinensis can increase the phagocytic index and percentage of phagocytes, which has a regulatory effect, can increase lymphocyte proliferation and activate the activity of phagocytes.

5、Nyingchi

Ganoderma Lucidum Karst, also known as Chizhi, Hongzhi, polyporus lucidus and Orthotrichaceae, is the fruit body of Ganoderma lucidum of Polyporaceae and a traditional fungal medicine in China. The best is grown in forests with the highest efficacy. At present, it is also planted in artificial greenhouses with humid environment. Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng, Cordyceps sinensis and others are known as "Nine Immortal Herbs of China" and have been consumed in China for thousands of years, creating Ganoderma lucidum culture as the national treasure.

Scientific research has proved that Ganoderma lucidum extracts and their active ingredients such as polysaccharides, small molecular proteins and triterpenes can enhance the functions of various immune cells in the natural or acquired immune system, and can promote the secretion of various cytokines and antibodies, especially when the immune function is in a low state, the immune enhancement effect of ganoderma lucidum is more significant.

6、Garlic

Allium sativum L. is a perennial herb of the genus Allium in the Liliaceous family, with bulbs globose to flattened globular, usually consisting of many fleshy, petal-shaped bulblets arranged in close proximity and covered with several layers of white to purplish. Garlic originates from Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Sichuan, Shanxi. It originated in Central Asia and the Mediterranean region, was introduced into China during the Han Dynasty and is now grown all over the world. As early as 1500 BC, there are 22 records in Egyptian medical literature where garlic was used to treat headache, throat discomfort, weakness and other symptoms, while garlic has been used to treat hypertension for centuries n China and Japan. Garlic has always been famous for its excellent bactericidal effect.

Among the active ingredients contained in garlic extract, such as garlic polysaccharide, allicin and alliin, etc. Garlic polysaccharide has antioxidant, antiviral and immunity enhancing effects. The scientific name of allicin is diallyl thiosulfinate, which can eliminate the inflammatory reaction, reduce the damage of free radicals to human cells. Garlic extract has strong killing effect on gram-positive bacteria and negative bacteria. The European Union(EU) issued Regulation 2021/129 on 4 February 2021, renewing the approval of the active ingredients Garlic Extract. Apart from health food and medicine, garlic extract can be widely used in feed.