Abstract: Effect of Monascus polysaccharides on immune function of the species of Kunming mice has been studied. The experiment included relative weights of spleen and thymus, delayed type hypersensitivity, plaque forming cell assay and macrophage function assay. Through the DTH experiment, the mice’s feet swollen degree has obvious changes, compared with the control team, after pouring the polysaccharides into stomach. The experiment illuminated that polysaccharides could improve the mice cellular immunity. In the experiment of carbon granule clearance rate, polysaccharides can improve abdominal cavity macrophage’s phagocytolytic ability, prompt the formation of periphery blood E-rose loop, increase the transformation rate of vivo lymphocyte and strengthen nonspecific immunity. The relative weight of thymus has obvious changes compared with the control team and the result of the plaque forming cell assay showed that polysaccharides can improve the function of humoral immunity and cell immunity.

Key words: Monascus polysaccharides, delayed type hypersensitivity, immunocompetence, carbon granule clearance rate