Efficacy of Qi-Gen powder for immunity enhancement and investigation of its therapeutic mechanisms through gene expression profiling

Abstract Infection with different viruses threatens the health of animals in the livestock and poultry industry. Immunopotentiators can increase natural immunity and vaccination efficacy; however, most are expensive chemical and biological compounds with questionable safety. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) such as Yupingfeng (YPF), a well-known immunomodulatory remedy, provide healthy alternatives to such agents. The aim of this study was to examine the therapeutic properties of Qi-Gen powder (QG) and compare them with those of YPF. The immune organ index, cytokine levels, and other indicators were utilized to evaluate the effects of QG in an immunosuppression mouse model. QG was further assessed for its ability to enhance vaccine effectiveness in chickens immunized for Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Potential therapeutic mechanisms and targets of QG were examined in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using microarray technology combined with the TCM systems pharmacology database of known targets. Compared with model controls, QG improved immunological function, outperforming YPF in mice. QG also enhanced the immunological response to NDV vaccine in immune organs and increased feed intake of chickens. Further research is needed to validate the link between the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3 pathway and the immune-boosting effects of QG.