Zingiberis rhizoma(ZB) has been used to treat a various condition and disease in traditional oriental medicine. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous-extracted ZB(ZBE) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced immune suppression in mouse spleen cells. In spleen cell proliferation assay, ZBE enhanced mitogenic activity in mouse spleen cells. In RT-PCR, ZBE induced IL-2, IFNr and IL-6 cytokine gene expression in mouse spleen cells. In spite of MTX treatment, IL-2, IFNr and IL-6 gene expressions sustained in MTX treated spleen cells. CD45R/B220, pan B marker was slightly increased in ZBE treated mouse spleen cells. IL-6, B cell tropical cytokine, production was induced by ZBE-treated mouse spleen cells and IL-6 production was sustained on MTX-ZBE co-cultured cells. ZBE administration enhanced suNival of S-180 bearing mouse. These data indicate that ZBE has a protective effect of immune suppression caused by MTX, and ZBE may be enhance cellular and humoral function by regulate cytokine gene expression as well as the mitogenic effect on spleen cells.