Key Points

• The therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are usually attributed to its up- or downregulation of immune responses.

• Dendritic cells (DCs) as professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) play a central role in the initiation and regulation of immune responses.

• A number of TCM herbal medicines or their components have in vitro and in vivo activity in promoting major functions of DCs.

• The promotion of DC function may underlie the efficacy of TCM in the treatment of immunosuppressive diseases, such as cancer and viral infection.

• These findings also provide the basis for the development of novel therapeutic agents from traditional medicinal botanicals.