A polysaccharide from Sargassum fusiforme protects against immunosuppression in cyclophosphamide-treated mice

Cheonggukjang polysaccharides enhance immune activities and prevent cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression

Cheonggukjang is a traditional Korean fermentation product prepared from soybean that is reported to have various biological functions. We previously reported that the polysaccharides from Cheonggukjang (PSCJ) have immunostimulatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophages and primary cultured splenocytes. In this study, the immunostimulatory activities of the PSCJ were investigated further using various experimental models such as in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The PSCJ was able to stimulate the complement system (ITCH50: 30.6%). In primary cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, the PSCJ was found to significantly increase nitric oxide and immunostimulatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-12) production in a concentration-dependent manner (1-100 μg/mL). In the normal mice model, the oral administration of the PSCJ increased the weight of spleen (p < 0.05 at 100 and 200 mg/kg) and improved the phagocytic rates of peritoneal macrophages (p < 0.05 at 200 mg/kg) and lymphocytes proliferation (p < 0.05 at 100 and 200 mg/kg). Similarly, the PSCJ markedly restored the decreased lymphocytes proliferation (p < 0.01 at 200 mg/kg), natural killer cell activity (p < 0.01 at 200mg/kg), and white blood cell count (p<0.01 at 100 and 200 mg/kg) in the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice model. These results suggest that the PSCJ could be utilized as an effective immunostimulatory agent.

Processed Aloe vera gel ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced immunotoxicity

The effects of processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced immunotoxicity were examined in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of CP significantly reduced the total number of lymphocytes and erythrocytes in the blood. Oral administration of PAG quickly restored CP-induced lymphopenia and erythropenia in a dose-dependent manner. The reversal of CP-induced hematotoxicity by PAG was mediated by the functional preservation of Peyer’s patch cells. Peyer’s patch cells isolated from CP-treated mice, which were administered PAG, produced higher levels of T helper 1 cytokines and colony-stimulating factors (CSF) in response to concanavalin A stimulation as compared with those isolated from CP-treated control mice. PAG-derived polysaccharides directly activated Peyer’s patch cells isolated from normal mice to produce cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, interferon-γ, granulocyte-CSF, and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF. The cytokines produced by polysaccharide-stimulated Peyer’s patch cells had potent proliferation-inducing activity on mouse bone marrow cells. In addition, oral administration of PAG restored IgA secretion in the intestine after CP treatment. These results indicated that PAG could be an effective immunomodulator and that it could prevent CP-induced immunotoxic side effects.

A polysaccharide from Ganoderma atrum inhibits tumor growth by induction of apoptosis and activation of immune response in CT26-bearing mice

Ganoderma atrum is one species of edible and pharmaceutical mushroom with various biological activities. Recently, a novel polysaccharide, PSG-1, was purified from G. atrum. The antitumor activity and its mechanism of action were studied. In vitro, PSG-1 has little effect on inhibiting proliferation of CT26 tumor cells. However, the tumor size was significantly decreased in PSG-1-treated mice. The results showed that PSG-1 induced apoptosis in CT26 cells. Moreover, the intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level and protein kinase A (PKA) activity were markedly increased in PSG-1-treated mice. In contrast, the contents of cyclic GMP and DAG and the PKC activity were decreased. Similarly, the expression of PKA protein was upregulated, while PKC protein expression in PSG-1-treated group was lowered. Additionally, PSG-1 increased the immune organ index and serum biochemistry parameter. In general, PSG-1 enhances the antitumor immune response, induces apoptosis in CT26-bearing mice, and could be a safe and effective adjuvant for tumor therapy or functional food.

Characterization of polysaccharides with antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities from the wild edible mushroom Russula vinosa Lindblad

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of water-soluble polysaccharides (RVLWP) and alkali-soluble polysaccharides (RVLAP) from Russula vinosa on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver damage in mice. For the in vitro antioxidant activities, RVLWP and RVLAP exhibited potent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 1.55 ± 0.04 and 3.37 ± 0.21 mg/mL, respectively), hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (IC50 = 6.07 ± 0.24 and 9.23 ± 0.54 mg/mL, respectively), lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.52 ± 0.095 and 0.86 ± 0.043 mg/mL, respectively), and moderate reducing power and Fe(2+) chelating activity (IC50 = 1.86 ± 0.0036 and 0.22 ± 0.0057 mg/mL, respectively). Ascorbic acid was employed as the standard antioxidant in the present study. For the in vivo hepatoprotective activity, administration of RVLWP and RVLAP (200 mg/kg) significantly prevented the elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in acute liver damage induced by CCl4 and suppressed hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. Mice treated with RVLWP and RVLAP demonstrated a better profile of antioxidants with augmented activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver. The results suggest that RVLWP and RVLAP protect the liver from CCl4-induced hepatic damage via antioxidant mechanisms.

Immuno-enhancement effects of ethanol extract from Cyrtomium macrophyllum (Makino) Tagawa on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in BALB/c mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cyrtomium macrophyllum (Makino) Tagawa has been traditionally used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of various infectious diseases such as tapeworm infestation, colds, and viral diseases. However, no systematic study of the immunity of Cyrtomium macrophyllum ethanol extracts (CM) has yet been reported. The present work evaluates these traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

120 male BALB/c mice were divided into 6 groups of 20 mice each: (1) normal group (sterile physiological saline), which served as a blank control; (2) model group (Cyclophosphamide, CY) group (sterile physiological saline), which served as a negative control; (3) low-dose CM (50 mg/kg BW); (4) intermediate-dose CM (100 mg/kg BW); (5) high-dose CM (200 mg/kg BW); (6) CM group (200 mg/kg BW). CY (0.2 ml) was administered via intraperitoneal injection. The other regimens were administered via gavage in 0.2 ml solution. Phytochemical of CM was characterized by HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap. The acute toxicity effect of the ethanol extract of Cyrtomium macrophyllum was also investigated.

RESULTS

The spleen and thymus indices of mice receiving low, intermediate, and high doses of CM recovered more quickly than those of CY mice, and they did so in a dose-dependent manner. These mice also showed higher T cell and B cell proliferation responses and macrophage function than those of CY mice, and their serum levels of interleukin-6 and interferon-γ had become normal. In acute toxicity test, CM exhibited no mortality and behavioral changes in mice. Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins to be the major compounds present in the extract, at 27.64%, 30.87%, and 11.22%, respectively. We found that 16 compounds were characterized by the interpretation of their mass spectra obtained by the MS/MS.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrates that Cyrtomium macrophyllum ethanol extract improved immune function in CY-treated mice.

Probiotic Lactobacillus strains protect against myelosuppression and immunosuppression in cyclophosphamide-treated mice

This work evaluated the capacity of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus casei CRL431 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1506, to protect against myelosuppression and immunosuppression in cyclophosphamide (Cy)-treated mice. Changes in mature granulocytes and progenitor cells in bone marrow (BM) and blood were studied. In addition, the ability of probiotics to accelerate the recovery of the immune response against the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans was evaluated. We demonstrated for the first time that the preventive treatment with immunomodulatory lactobacilli such as L. casei CRL431 or L. rhamnosus CRL1506 was able to increase immature myeloid progenitors in the BM, allowing an early recovery of myeloid cells after Cy administration. Probiotic lactobacilli were also capable to induce an early recovery of neutrophils in blood, improve phagocytic cells recruitment to infectious sites and increase the resistance against the opportunistic pathogen C. albicans. Although deeper studies regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of probiotic actions are needed, these findings support the idea that strains like CRL431 and CRL1506 may accelerate the recovery of Cy-caused immunosuppression by immunopotentiating myeloid cells. Then, probiotic lactobacilli have the potential to be used as alternatives for lessening chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression in cancer patients.

Sargassum fusiforme polysaccharide activates nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and induces cytokine production via Toll-like receptors

This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of macrophage activation by the Sargassum fusiforme polysaccharide (SFPS). As a result, SFPS significantly enhanced cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) productions in peritoneal macrophages, and stimulated macrophages to produce the cytokines and NO through the induction of their genes expression. The pretreatment of peritoneal macrophages with special antibodies [Toll-like receptors (TLRs) antibody] significantly blocked SFPS-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and NO production. Furthermore, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific inhibitor of NF-κB, effectively suppressed SFPS-induced TNF-α and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) secretion in peritoneal macrophages, indicating that SFPS stimulated macrophages to produce cytokines through the NF-κB pathway and the result was further confirmed by the experiment of Western blotting (WB) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Taken together, these results suggest that SFPS-mediated induction of cytokines and NO production in macrophages is mediated, at least in part, by TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Structural investigation and immunological activity of a heteropolysaccharide from Sargassum fusiforme

A heteropolysaccharide was isolated from the brown alga, Sargassum fusiforme. The heteropolysaccharide was estimated to have a molecular weight of 11kDa and showed [α]D(20) -62.2420 (c 0.05, H2O). SFPS65-B comprised galactose, glucose, mannose, fucose, and galacturonic acid at a ratio of 3.04:1:1.15:2.82:6.51. Its structural features were investigated using composition analysis, methylation analysis, IR, NMR spectroscopy, and ESI-Q-TOF MS spectroscopy. Results showed that SFPS65-B contained the backbone of →4)-α-GalAp-(1→4)-α-Hexp-(1→4)-α-GalAp-(1→4)-α-Fucp-(1→4)-α-GalAp-(1→. The sulfated unit and terminal fucose residues were attached onto the backbone through the O-2 of some galactose residues. Results also showed that SFPS65-B had a good effect on thymus and spleen indices at a dose of 100mg/kg upon immunosuppression in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

Immunostimulatory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Makgeolli (traditional Korean rice wine)

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine, reported to have various biological functions. In this study, the immunostimulatory activity of a polysaccharide from makgeolli (PSM) was investigated. The polysaccharide fraction was isolated from makgeolli by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, dialysis, and lyophilization. The major constituents in PSM were neutral sugars (87.3%). PSM was composed of five different sugars, glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose. In normal mice, PSM treatment increased the spleen index (p < 0.05) as well as splenocyte proliferation (p < 0.05) in combination with concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. The immunostimulatory activities of PSM were also examined in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Mice treated with PSM exhibited increased splenocyte proliferation (p < 0.05), natural killer cell activity, and white blood cell counts (p < 0.01) compared with immunosuppressed mice. These results indicate that PSM can enhance immune function in normal mice and CY-induced immunosuppressed mice.

The design of propolis flavone microemulsion and its effect on enhancing the immunity and antioxidant activity in mice

The objective of the present study was to formulate a microemulsion system for improving the activity of propolis flavone (PF). Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to evaluate the existence area of PF microemulsion (PFM). The formulation was characterized by particle size, zeta potential, morphology and stability. The results showed that the optimal PFM formulation consists of 5.3% ethyl acetate, 14% RH-40, 7% ethanol and 73.7% water (w/w), with a solubility of PF up to 3.0 mg mL(-1). The immune-enhancing and antioxidant activity of PFM in vitro and in vivo were performed. The results showed that PFM could significantly promote the splenocyte proliferation and the secretion of IL-2 and IFN-γ in vitro. In vivo, PFM at high and medium doses was able to significantly increase the thymus and spleen indices, enhance splenocyte activity and improve the contents of IgG and IgM in serum, it could also improve the antioxidant activity, significantly increase the levels of superoxidase dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and decrease the malondialdehyde levels compared with PF. These results indicated that microemulsion could be used as an effective formulation for enhancing the activity of PF. Therefore, microemulsion would be expected to exploit into a new-type preparation of PF.

Microemulsion can improve the immune-enhancing activity of propolis flavonoid on immunosuppression and immune response

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the immune-enhancing activity of propolis flavone (PF) could be improved after PF was made into PF microemulsion (PFM). Two experiments were carried out. In immunosuppression experiment, the immune-enhancing effect of PFM in immunosuppressive chickens was performed. The results showed that PFM at high and medium doses was able to overcome the CTX-induced immunosuppression, significantly increases the immune organ indexes, enhances lymphocyte proliferation and improves the concentrations of IL-2 and IL-6 in serum when compared with PF. In immune response experiment, the adjuvant effect of PFM at three doses and PF were compared on chickens which were immunized intramuscularly with Avian Influenza Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus bivalent Vaccine. The results showed that PFM at high and medium doses could significantly promote lymphocyte proliferation, enhances antibody titer and the concentrations of IgG and IgM, and its efficacy were significantly better than PF at most time points. These results indicated that PFM could significantly improve the immune-enhancing activity and adjuvanticity of PF, and its high and medium doses possessed the best efficacy. Therefore, the microemulsion could be used as an effective formulation for enhancing the bioavailability of PF.

Effects of Sargassum fusiforme polysaccharides on antioxidant activities and intestinal functions in mice

Sargassum fusiforme is a kind of brown algae that has been widely consumed not only as food, but also as herbal medicine for thousands of years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activities and intestinal functions of polysaccharides extracted from S. fusiforme (SFP) in normal and cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice. The experiment was performed on six groups of ICR mice, which treated with cyclophosphamide (CY, 200 mg/kg) or different dosages of SFP for 14 days. The results showed that administration of SFP was able to overcome the immunosuppression, and significantly increased the spleen index and antioxidant activities in mice (P<0.05). It also remarkably improved the numbers of jejunal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and goblet cells in immunosuppressed mice (P<0.05). For normal mice, SFP increased both thymus index and intestinal function parameters such as villus length/crypt depth ratio and intestinal IELs and goblet cells (P<0.05). The results suggested that SFP, possessing pronounced antioxidant activities, may play an important role in the improvement of intestinal function in mice. This might be one of the possible mechanisms of SFP for the immunomodulatory effects.