Structural characterization and biological activities of two α-glucans from radix paeoniae alba

Potential Chemoprevention of Paeoniflorin in Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer by Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vivo Experiment

Chronic inflammation plays a positive role in the development and progression of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Medicinal plants and their extracts with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties may be an effective treatment and prevention strategy for CAC. This research aimed to explore the potential chemoprevention of paeoniflorin (PF) for CAC by network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vivo experiments. The results showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key target of PF against CAC. In the CAC mouse model, PF increased the survival rate of mice and decreased the number and size of colon tumors. Moreover, reduced histological score of colitis and expression of Ki-67 and PCNA were observed in PF-treated mice. In addition, the chemoprevention mechanisms of PF in CAC may be associated with suppression of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and the IL-17 level. This research provides experimental evidence of potential chemoprevention strategies for CAC treatment.

Chemical Structure and Immune Activation of a Glucan From Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii

Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii is a traditional Chinese herb used to treat depression and coronary heart disease. Studies on its active components mainly focus on small molecular compounds such as asarone and other essential oil components, while the large molecular active components such as polysaccharides are ignored. In this study, we aimed to study the chemical structure and immune activation of polysaccharides from Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii. In this study, a polysaccharide (RATAPW) was isolated and purified by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography from alkali extraction polysaccharide of Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii. The average molecular weight of RATAPW was 2.51 × 10⁴ Da, and the total carbohydrate contents of RATAPW were 98.23 ± 0.29%. The monosaccharide composition, methylation, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis results displayed that the polysaccharide was α-1,4-glucan with short α-1,6 branches. Immunofluorescence assay and inhibitor neutralization assay indicated that RATAPW could promote the TNF-α production of RAW264.7 macrophage through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) molecular signaling pathway. Treatment with 200 μg/ml of RATAPW enhanced a 38.77% rise in the proliferation rate of spleen lymphocytes. RATAPW also enhances ConA-induced T cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced B cell proliferation in a dose-dependent effect. Our study lays a foundation for the discovery of natural polysaccharide immune modulators or functional food from Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii.

Prebiotic, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Acidic Exopolysaccharide From Marine Rhodotorula RY1801

In this study, an extracellular acidic polysaccharide (EAPS) from marine Rhodotorula sp. RY1801 was extracted, and its biological properties were investigated. EAPS is mainly composed of monosaccharides, including mannose, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, and fucose, had an average molecular weight of 5.902 × 107 Da. The results indicated that EAPS can promote the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. acidophilus plantarum. EAPS is capable of scavenging both superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. The highest scavenging rate of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals is 29 and 84%, respectively. Using in vivo model, we found that the EAPS can expand the lifespan and increase the disease resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans against Klebsiella pneumoniae infection via the DAF-2/DAF-16 pathway. These results suggested that EAPS from marine Rhodotorula sp. RY1801 could promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and can be used as an antioxidant and immunomodulator, which had considerable potential in the food and health industry.

Structural Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activity of a Novel Polysaccharide From Lycopi Herba

Lycopi Herba has been broadly used as a traditional medicinal herb in Asia due to its ability to strengthen immunity. However, it is still obscure for its material basis and underlying mechanisms. Polysaccharide, as one of the most important components of most natural herbs, usually contributes to the immunomodulatory ability of herbs. Here, we aimed to detect polysaccharides from Lycopi Herba and examine their potential immunomodulatory activity. A novel polysaccharide (LHPW) was extracted from Lycopi Herba and purified by DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography and G-100 sephadex. According to physicochemical methods and monosaccharide composition analysis, LHPW was mainly composed of galactose, glucose, fructose, and arabinose. NMR and methylation analyses indicated that LHPW was a neutral polysaccharide with a backbone containing →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →4)-β-D-Galp-(1→ and →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, with the branches of →1)-β-D-Fruf-(2→ and →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→. Immunological tests indicated that LHPW could activate macrophage RAW264.7 and promote splenocyte proliferation. This study discovered a novel polysaccharide from Lycopi Herba and showed it was a potential immunomodulator.

Paeoniae radix alba polysaccharides obtained via optimized extraction treat experimental autoimmune hepatitis effectively

The extraction process of Paeoniae radix alba polysaccharides (PRAP) was optimized as the liquid-solid ratio of 10.65 mL/g, the extraction time of 2.10 h, and the 2 extraction repetitions through a response surface methodology. The chemical profiles of the obtained PRAP were characterized by measuring the contents of total carbohydrates, total phenolics, uronic acid and protein, and by analyzing the FT-IR spectrum and monosaccharide composition. To determine the therapeutic effects of PRAP on experimental autoimmune hepatitis (EAH), we established an EAH mice model. After treated with PRAP, liver and spleen injuries were reduced, and hepatocyte regeneration and liver function were improved. Further study of the mechanism by which PRAP treats EAH showed that PRAP significantly inhibited oxidative stress in the livers of EAH model mice. More importantly, PRAP inhibited immune inflammatory reactions in EAH model mice, including the hepatic infiltration of inflammatory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, as well as overexpression of inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10, via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Behavior of pesticides and their metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine Paeoniae Radix Alba during processing and associated health risk

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), crude herbs are processed to obtain the medicinal parts of the plant, from which extracts are prepared for people to take as medicine. However, there is no report on the pesticide residual behavior in Chinese medicines during processing at present, and thus, a systematic study of the effects of different processing factors (PF) on pesticide removal in Chinese medicines and the associated risk of dietary exposure is urgently needed. This study main investigated the dissipation and metabolism of pesticides in Chinese medicine Paeoniae Radix Alba during processing, and the calculated pesticide PFs were also used to assess the risk of dietary exposure. For analyze samples, a simple and high-throughput multiresidue pesticide analysis method was developed and validated for pesticides and their metabolites in P. Radix. based on QuEChERS procedure combined with HPLC-MS/MS. Recoveries at three concentration levels were within 61.37%-117.82% with an associated precision RSD < 15% indicating satisfactory accuracy. TCM processing could be useful for the partial removal of several pesticide residues, with removal rate reaching 98%. The polarity is the dominant variable, which with a high contribution was the effectiveness of the treatment and the concentration factors for pesticides. The hazard quotients of all pesticides were much lower than the safety level, indicating low risk of dietary exposure. Results are of great theoretical and practical value for the scientific evaluation of the safety of Chinese medicines, improvement of the quality and safety level of Chinese medicine.

Isolation and Characterization of Polysaccharides from Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) with Anti-Tumor Activities Using an Aqueous Two-Phase System

In this study, a simple aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was employed for concurrent purification of oyster polysaccharides. The chemical structure and anti-tumor activities of purified oyster polysaccharides (OP-1) were also investigated. Under optimal ATPS conditions, oyster polysaccharides can be partitioned in the bottom phase with 67.02% extraction efficiency. The molecular weight of OP-1 was determined as 3480 Da. OP-1 is a (1→4)-α-d-glucosyl backbone and branching points located at O-3 of glucose with a terminal-d-Glcp. The anti-tumor activity assay showed that OP-1 exhibited good activities, including promotion of splenocyte proliferation, IL-2 release, and inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation. Additionally, OP-1 had no in vivo toxicity. This finding suggests that ATPS is a much simpler and greener system, and it opens up new possibilities in the large-scale separation of active polysaccharides from oysters. OP-1 could be used by the health food and pharmaceutical therapies as potential anti-cancer adjuvants.