Purification and characterization of complement activating-acidic polysaccharide from the root of Lithospermum euchromum Royle

Macrophage-Stimulating Activity of Polysaccharides Extracted from Fruiting Bodies of Coriolus versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushroom)

The macrophage-stimulating effect of polysaccharides extracted from Coriolus versicolor (Turkey Tail mushroom) was investigated, and their effectiveness was compared with that of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The purified polysaccharide (CV-S2-Fr.I) of C. versicolor obtained by Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography stimulated macrophage lysosomal enzyme activity by 250% at a concentration of 100 microg/mL, which was higher than that of LPS at the same concentration. When CV-S2-Fr.I was used in combination with interferon-gamma, there was a marked cooperative induction of nitric oxide production. However, CV-S2-Fr.I had no effect on nitric oxide production by itself. The proportion of C3-positive macrophages in the CV-S2-Fr.I group increased by 7.2-fold compared with the control group.

Anti-complementary acidic polysaccharides from roots of Lithospermum euchromum

Extremely potent complement activating (anti-complementary) polysaccharides from roots of Lithospermum euchromum were fractionated in a novel way and also assayed for mitogenic and enhancing activity of immune complex binding to macrophages in vitro. Anti-complementary activity and enhancing activity of immune complex binding were observed in the different polysaccharide fractions, but no mitogenic activity was found. The acidic polysaccharide fraction (LR-2) which had the most potent anti-complementary activity was highly heterogeneous, and on further fractionation gave active polysaccharides. Extremely potent anti-complementary polysaccharides, LR-2IId-1a, LR-2IId-1b, LR-2IId-3a and LR-2IId-5a were characterized chemically. These consisted mainly of mannose, galactose, glucose and glucuronic acid, in addition to rhamnose, fucose and arabinose as minor components. Methylation analysis showed that the four polysaccharides contained mainly (1-->3)-linked galactose, (1-->3)-linked fucose and (1-->4)-linked glucose. (1-->3)-Linked mannose was also detected in LR-2IId-1a, 1b and 5a, and (1-->4)-linked glucuronic acid in LR-2IId-1a and 1b as the major glycosidic linkages.