Microcalorimetry coupled with principal component analysis for comparing the effects of two Panax species on mice splenic lymphocytes

A powerful microcalorimetric method based on the cell heat production was applied to evaluate the effects of two Panax species on mice splenic lymphocytes growth. Some qualitative and quantitative information, such as the metabolic power-time curves, growth rate constant k, maximum heat-output power P _max, appearance time for the highest peak t _max, total heat production Q _t for all the metabolic progress of mice splenic lymphocytes were obtained to present the effects of Panax ginseng and American Ginseng on these cells. Coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) on these quantitative thermokinetic parameters, the effects of the two Panax species on mice splenic lymphocytes could be quickly evaluated by analyzing the change of the main parameter k. From the values of k, it could be concluded quickly and accurately that Panax ginseng and American Ginseng both showed strong inhibitory effects on mice splenic lymphocytes, and the inhibitory effects was strengthened with increasing concentration of the two Panax species in the concentration range of 0–3.2 mg mL^?1. Panax ginseng with IC ₅₀ of 1.38 mg mL^?1 showed stronger inhibitory effect on mice splenic lymphocytes growth than American Ginseng with IC ₅₀ of 2.08 mg mL^?1. This study indicates that microcalorimetry is a powerful tool for evaluating the drugs’ efficiency on living system, providing some useful references for the application of Panax ginseng and American Ginseng in practice.