Rosemary blend and immune cell activity in healthy adults
What it found
A single 500 mg dose of a blend containing rosemary, Aloe vera and Poria cocos changed immune cell numbers and activation markers in the blood of 11 healthy adults within hours.
The authors say this suggests a boost to natural immune surveillance.
What they found
Studies in people
Chemokine changes
After the blend, levels of IP-10 rose at 1 hour and peaked at 2 hours, while MCP-1 rose and stayed higher at 3 hours, compared with placebo. Eotaxin and RANTES fell.
Immune cell numbers
Monocyte numbers in the blood dropped at 1 hour, then NK and NKT cells dropped at 2 to 3 hours, and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells dropped at 2 and 3 hours. The authors say this suggests the cells moved out of the blood into tissues.
Activation markers
CD25 on monocytes, NKT cells and T cells rose at 1 hour. CD69 on NKT cells rose at 2 hours and stayed higher at 3 hours. There was no change in CD25 on NK cells.
Gamma delta T cells
Numbers of gamma delta T cells fell at 3 hours, after a rise in the CD25 marker at 2 hours. There was a mild rise in CD69 at 2 hours.
Antioxidant enzymes
Activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase increased at 2 hours after the blend compared with placebo.
Growth factor G-CSF
The stem cell mobilising growth factor G-CSF increased at 2 hours after the blend.
What the authors conclude
“Consumption of APR extract triggered acute changes to chemokine levels. In addition, immune alertness was increased via the expression of activation markers on multiple types of innate immune cells, followed by increased immune surveillance and antioxidant protection.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the blend triggered acute changes to chemokine levels and increased immune alertness and surveillance.
- They suggest this is likely due to a combination of gut-mediated cytokine release and vagus nerve communication, along with cellular protection from oxidative stress.
- They call for more research, including studies with immune challenges, to see if such products could support immune defence.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether a blend of Aloe vera, Poria cocos and rosemary could quickly affect immune surveillance in people, since previous research showed some botanical and fungal extracts can cause mild immune changes within hours.
They ran a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial in 11 healthy adults. Each person took a single 500 mg dose of the blend or a placebo on two separate days a week apart, and blood was taken before and at 1, 2 and 3 hours after each dose.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study in 11 healthy adults, so the results may not apply to other people or to those with health conditions.
- The study did not test whether these immune changes actually protect against infections or diseases.
- The blend contains rosemary along with Aloe vera and Poria cocos, so the effects cannot be attributed to rosemary alone.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no competing interests.
The paper
- Title
- Rapid increase in immune surveillance and expression of NKT and γδT cell activation markers after consuming a nutraceutical supplement containing Aloe vera gel, extracts of Poria cocos and rosemary. A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Yu L, McGarry S, Cruickshank D, Jensen GS (2023). Rapid increase in immune surveillance and expression of NKT and γδT cell activation markers after consuming a nutraceutical supplement containing Aloe vera gel, extracts of Poria cocos and rosemary. A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial. PloS one. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0291254Free full textPubMed 37699014DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error