Inhibitory effect of Schisandra chinensis leaf polysaccharide against L5178Y lymphoma

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activity of polysaccharides from Schisandra chinensis: A review

Schisandra chinensis (SC), a plant of the Magnoliaceae family, commonly known as "North Schisandra chinensis", has been listed as a top-grade Chinese medicine in the Shennong Materia Medica Classic for its high medicinal value since ancient times. Polysaccharides from S. chinensis fruits (SCPs) are an active component in SC, which have various biological activity, including immune regulation, anti-tumor, antioxidant, liver protective, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activity. Research has shown that the extraction methods of SCPs include hot water extraction, water extraction and alcohol precipitation, ultrasonic-assisted, microwave-assisted and so on. Different extraction methods can affect the yield and purity of polysaccharides, and to improve the extraction yield of SCPs, two or more extraction methods can be combined. SCPs are mainly composed of glucose, mannose, rhamnose, galactose, galacturonic acid and arabinose. This article aims to provide a systematic review of the research progress in the extraction and separation methods, structural characterization, and biological activity of SCPs both domestically and internationally in recent years. This deeply explores the pharmacological activity and action mechanism of SCPs, and provides a certain point of reference for the research and clinical application of SC.

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities of the genus Schisandra polysaccharides: A review

The genus Schisandra, a member of the Magnoliaceae family, is a well-known tonic traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of traditional medicinal and functional food used in China. Polysaccharides are one of its main active constituents, which have a wide range of bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotection, anti-diabetes, hepatoprotection, immunomodulation, and anti-fatigue. In this paper, we review the extraction, isolation, purification, structural characterization, bioactivities, as well as structure-activity relationship of polysaccharides from the genus Schisandra. In conclusion, we hope that this review could provide reference for the subsequent research on structural, bioactivities, development and application of the genus Schisandra polysaccharides.

Anti-tumor activity and immunogenicity of a succinoglycan riclin

Natural polysaccharides have attracted considerable interests due to diverse biological activities. Succinoglycan is an extracellular polysaccharide produced by most Agrobacterium strains. Here, we confirmed riclin was a typical succinoglycan by NMR and methylation analysis, and investigated the antitumor effects of riclin in sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mice. The results showed that riclin inhibited the tumor growth significantly as well as cyclophosphamide (CTX). While CTX caused serious damage to spleen structure, riclin increased the spleen index and promoted lymphocytes proliferation in peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes. Riclin decreased splenocytes apoptosis as evidenced by alterations of B-cell lymphoma-2 family proteins and Cleaved Caspase-3 protein. Moreover, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics analysis revealed that riclin partially altered the metabolic profiles of splenocytes. In conclusion, riclin is a succinoglycan that performed strong immunogenicity and suppressed sarcoma growth in mice. Succinoglycan riclin could be a potential antitumor agent for functional food and pharmaceutical purpose.

Potential of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. in Human Health and Nutrition: A Review of Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Perspectives

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (SCE) is a plant with high potential for beneficial health effects, confirmed by molecular studies. Its constituents exert anti-cancer effects through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as well as inhibition of invasion and metastasis in cancer cell lines and experimental animals. SCE displays antimicrobial effects against several pathogenic strains. It has anti-diabetic potential, supported by hypoglycemic activity. A diet rich in SCE improves pancreatic functions, stimulates insulin secretion, and reduces complications in diabetic animals. SCE prevents lipid accumulation and differentiation of preadipocytes, indicating its anti-obesity potential. SCE exerts a protective effect against skin photoaging, osteoarthritis, sarcopenia, senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and improves physical endurance and cognitive/behavioural functions, which can be linked with its general anti-aging potency. In food technology, SCE is applied as a preservative, and as an additive to increase the flavour, taste, and nutritional value of food. In summary, SCE displays a variety of beneficial health effects, with no side effects. Further research is needed to determine the molecular mechanisms of SCE action. First, the constituents responsible for its beneficial effects should be isolated and identified, and recommended as preventative nutritional additives, or considered as therapeutics.

Antitussive activity of the Schisandra chinensis fruit polysaccharide (SCFP-1) in guinea pigs models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis), locally known as "Wuweizi", has been used in the treatment of chronic cough as prescription medications of Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. However, the components of antitussive activity of S. chinensis and the mechanism are poorly understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the antitussive activity of polysaccharides extracted from S. chinensis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

S. chinensis fruit polysaccharide-1 (SCFP-1) was extracted by 95% ethanol and distilled water successively, and then the water extraction was isolated with chromatographic columns. The preliminary characterization of SCFP-1 was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and some other recognized chemical methods. Antitussive potential of SCFP-1 was estimated at dose of 250, 500, and 1000mg/kg respectively by peroral administration in a guinea pigs model with cough hypersensitivity induced by cigarette smoke (Chronic cough model) or acute cough guinea model induced by citric acid (Acute cough model). Also, the time-dependent antitussive effect of SCFP-1 were evaluated with acute cough model, and compared with codeine.

RESULTS

The molecular of SCFP-1 was 3.18×10⁴Da, mainly being composed of glucose and arabinose (66.5% and 29.4%, respectively). Peroral administration of SCFP-1 at 250, 500, and 1000mg/kg showed remarkable suppressive effects respectively on cough in both of chronic cough model and acute cough model. Meanwhile, inflammatory cell in BALF and some typical characteristics of nonspecific airway inflammation in animals exposed to CS was significantly attenuated after pretreatment with SCFP-1. The cough suppression of SCFP-1 (500 mg/kg) stablly lasted during the whole 5 h of time-dependent experiment, while no positive effect was observed after 300 min of oral administration of codeine.

CONCLUSIONS

SCFP-1 is one of the antitussive components of S. chinensis.

Polysaccharides from Traditional Chinese Medicines: Extraction, Purification, Modification, and Biological Activity

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to treat diseases in China for thousands of years. TCM compositions are complex, using as their various sources plants, animals, fungi, and minerals. Polysaccharides are one of the active and important ingredients of TCMs. Polysaccharides from TCMs exhibit a wide range of biological activities in terms of immunity- modifying, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-tumor properties. With their widespread biological activities, polysaccharides consistently attract scientist's interests, and the studies often concentrate on the extraction, purification, and biological activity of TCM polysaccharides. Currently, numerous studies have shown that the modification of polysaccharides can heighten or change the biological activities, which is a new angle of polysaccharide research. This review highlights the current knowledge of TCM polysaccharides, including their extraction, purification, modification, and biological activity, which will hopefully provide profound insights facilitating further research and development.

Smashing Tissue Extraction of Five Lignans From the Fruit of Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra chinensis is one of the most famous herbal medicines in China, Korea and Japan. It has been widely used as a tonic, sedative, anti-aging and astringent agent. Lignans are one of its main bioactive components. The classical methods for extracting lignans, however, were tedious and energy-consuming. With the aim to develop an effective extraction method of lignans, the smashing tissue extraction (STE) technique was adopted and optimized in this study. Extraction conditions of STE have been optimized by the response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design. Results showed that 75% aqueous ethanol was the optimal extraction solvent, and the other optimal conditions were as follows: extraction voltage of 180 V, extraction time of 1 min, solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 19 and sample particle size of 120 mesh. Under these optimized conditions, the total content of the five lignans (Schisandrol A, Schisantherin A, Deoxyschisandrin, Schisandrin B and Schisandrin C) in S. chinensis collected from Baishan City located in the northeast of China was 13.89 ± 0.014 mg/g, which was well matched with the value predicted by the model. Other techniques, including heat reflux, Soxhlet, ultrasonic-assisted and microwave-assisted extraction, were further compared. Results suggested that STE had the highest extraction efficiency of lignans with the shortest time. It indicates that the approach proposed in this study is a simple and efficient technique for the extraction of lignans in S. chinensis.

Antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble low molecular weight polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill

A water-soluble low molecular weight polysaccharide (SCPP11) was extracted and purified using DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. Its in vivo and in vitro antitumor and immunomodulatory activity were investigated. The results showed that SCPP11 with a molecular weight of 3.4×10(3)Da exhibited indirect cyctotoxic activity against tumor cells in vitro, but could significantly inhibit the growth of Heps cells in vivo at dose of 50mg/kg, and its inhibition rate is higher than that in the positive group. Moreover, SCPP11 could ameliorate the hematological and biochemical parameters to almost normal and no significant changes in organ weight, and could increase the body weight. In addition, SCPP11 (at 50mg/kg) could also increased in thymus indexes as well as IL-2 and TNF-α levels in serum in vivo and significantly enhance the phagocytosis activity and the productions of NO of RAW264.7 in vitro. The results indicated that antitumor properties of SCPP11 might be achieved by improving immune response. It could be explored as a potential adjuvant against cancer used in the health food and pharmaceutical therapy.

Immunological response in H22 transplanted mice undergoing Aconitum coreanum polysaccharide treatment

In this study, a polysaccharide (ACP-a1), with a molecular weight of 3.2×10(5)Da, was successfully purified and identified from the roots of Aconitum coreanum (Lèvl.) Rapaics. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis indicated that ACP-a1 was mainly composed of β-d-mannose and β-d-glucose in a molar ratio of 1.2:3.5. The effects of ACP-a1 on the tumor growth and immune function were assessed in hepatoma H22 bearing mice. Results showed that ACP-a1 significantly inhibited the growth of hepatoma H22 transplanted in mice and prolonged the survival time of H22 tumor-bearing mice. Besides, the body weight, peripheral white blood cells (WBC), thymus index and spleen index of H22 tumor-bearing were also improved after ACP-a1 treatment. Furthermore, ACP-a1 could promote the secretion of serum cytokines in H22 tumor-bearing mice, such as IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Taken together, our results indicate that ACP-a1 inhibits tumor growth in vivo at least partly via improving immune responses of host organism, and seems to be safe and effective as a novel agent with immunomodulatory activity for the use of anti-tumor therapy.

Anticancer polysaccharides from natural resources: a review of recent research

Taking into account the rising trend of the incidence of cancers of various organs, effective therapies are urgently needed to control human malignancies. However, almost all of the chemotherapy drugs currently on the market cause serious side effects. Fortunately, several previous studies have shown that some non-toxic biological macromolecules, including polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes, possess anti-cancer activities or can increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy drugs. Based on these encouraging observations, a great deal of effort has been focused on discovering anti-cancer polysaccharides and complexes for the development of effective therapeutics for various human cancers. This review focuses on the advancements in the anti-cancer efficacy of various natural polysaccharides and polysaccharide complexes in the past 5 years. Most polysaccharides were tested using model systems, while several involved clinical trials.