Purification and characterization of an antitumor polysaccharide from Portulaca oleracea L

The molecular basis of the immunomodulatory effects of natural products: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Natural products (NPs) have long been recognized for their potential to modulate the immune system, offering a natural and holistic approach to enhancing immune function. In recent years, the immunomodulation effects of various natural products have attained significant attention.

PURPOSE

This article provides an overview of the role of natural products in immunomodulation, exploring their mechanisms of action, common types of NPs with immunomodulation properties, clinical applications, as well as considerations for their safety and efficacy.

METHODS

Extensive research has been conducted to compile important discoveries on the immunomodulatory properties of NPs through thorough searches of multiple databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus up until January 2024.

RESULTS

By decreasing the levels of Th2 cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines, the results suggested that NPs have the ability to modulate the immune system. Therefore, NPs alleviate inflammation in various disorders such as asthma and cancer. Furthermore, the observed increase in CD4 cells and IFN-ɣ/IL4 levels, along with an increased IFN-c/IL4 ratio, indicates a stimulatory effect of NPs on Th1 activity in various inflammatory conditions. Therefore, NPs regulate the immune system by inhibiting T-cells and decreasing the growth of young B-cell lymphoma cells.

CONCLUSION

Reviewing studies indicated that NPs have the potential to serve as immunomodulatory candidates for treating disorders characterized by immune dysregulation. However, additional experimental and clinical studies are necessary before these agents can be implemented in clinical settings.

Four alkaloids from Portulaca oleracea L. and their anti-inflammatory

Four alkaloids were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., including two new compounds, 2-(4-amino-6-hydroxy-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-5-yl)-5-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diol, named Olerapyrimidine (1) and (2 R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((6-hydroxypyridin-3-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-3,4,5-triol, named Olerapyridine (2), and two known compounds including 1H-imidazole (3) and (5S, 6 R, 7S, 8 R)-5-amino-(2Z,4Z)-1,2,3-trihydroxybuta-2,4-dienyloxy-pentane-6,7,8,9-tetraol (4) from P. oleracea for the first time. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Both Olerapyrimidine and Olerapyridine at 20 μM could inhibit the inflammatory factors, IL-1β and TNF-α in the RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS.

Purification, structural characterization, and immunomodulatory activity of two polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L

In present study, two water-soluble polysaccharides designated as POL-1 and POL-2 were purified from purslane and their structural characteristics as well as immunomodulatory activity were investigated. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of POL-1 and POL-2 were determined to be 64,100 Da and 21,000 Da, respectively. Comprehensive techniques including UV, IR, GC-MS, and NMR were applied to deduced that POL-1 was a pectin polysaccharide homogalacturonan (HG) consisting of →4)-α-GalpA-(1→ with methyl ester degree of 9.71 % and acetylation degree of 0.34 %, while POL-2 was composed of a 1, 4-linked β-Galp backbone substituted by short side chain →4)-α-Glcp-(1→ and →6)-α-Glcp-(1→. The →4)-α-Glcp-(1→ was attached at the O-6 position of →4)-β-Galp-(1→. TEM further revealed that POL-1 was non-branched single chains, while POL-2 was entangled microstructure with side chains. Moreover, POL-2 significantly promoted macrophage phagocytosis as well as the secretion of NO and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) through activating NF-κB signaling pathway, thus demonstrating potential immunomodulatory activity. These findings suggested that purslane may be exploited as a potential adjuvant and dietary supplement with immunostimulatory purpose.

Isolation and characterization of dihydrohomoisoflavonoids from Portulaca oleracea L

Eight pairs of dihydrohomoisoflavonoids (1-8), including four pairs of enantiomeric aglycones [(R,S)-portulacanones B (1) and C (2) and (R,S)-oleracones C (3) and Q (4)] and four pairs of epimeric glycosides [portulacasides A-D and epiportulacasides A-D (5-8)], were obtained from Portulaca oleracea L. Among them, (R,S)-oleracone Q (4) and four pairs of epimeric glycosides (5-8) were reported for the first time. The 50% EtOH fraction from the 70% EtOH extract prevented HepG2 human liver cancer cell damage induced by N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), and the cell survival rate was 62.3%. Portulacaside B (6a), which was isolated from the 50% EtOH fraction, exhibited hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. The compound increased the survival rate of APAP-damaged HepG2 human liver cancer cells from 40.0% to 51.2% and reduced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, resulting in an inhibitory rate of 46.8%.

Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharide inhibits ovarian cancer via inducing ACSL4-dependent ferroptosis

The antitumor effect of Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharide (POL) has been demonstrated, but whether it curbs the development of ovarian cancer has not been reported. Here, we treated ovarian cancer cells with different concentrations of POL, detected cell activity by CCK-8 assay, and apoptosis rate by flow cytometry. The results showed that SKOV3 and Hey cell survival decreased with increasing POL concentration in a dose-dependent manner. POL significantly inhibited ovarian cancer cell migration and increased cell death compared with the control group. Ferroptosis inhibitors, but not apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy inhibitors, reversed POL-induced cell death. Further studies revealed that POL promoted the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased glutathione (GSH) production. Moreover, POL significantly increased the mortality of ovarian cancer cells. In vivo studies confirmed that POL reduced the volume and weight of tumors and increased the levels of Fe2+ and MDA in mice in vivo. Western blot assay revealed that POL increased the expression of ACSL4 in ovarian cancer cells as well as in tumors in mice in vivo. More importantly, the POL-mediated increase in lipid ROS, Fe2+, MDA, and decrease in GSH were significantly reversed after knocking down ACSL4 in ovarian cancer cells. Thus, POL can effectively inhibit ovarian cancer development, which may be achieved by increasing ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis. These results suggest that POL has the potential to be a potential drug for targeted treatment of ovarian cancer.

Two novel ketone alkaloids from Portulaca oleraceaL. and their anti-inflammatory activities

Eleven compounds were obtained from Portulaca oleracea L., including two novel ketone alkaloids, (1, 2), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzamide (3) (isolated for the first time), β-adenosine (4), oleracrylimide A and B (5, 6), oleracein H, C, D, Q and A (7-11). The two novel ketone alkaloids were identified as 5-acetyl-5-methylcyclopent-2-ene-1-carboxamide (1), named oleraciamide H, and (2 R,3S,4R,5R)-5-((R)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-yl glycinate (2), named oleracone Q by spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR and compound fingerprints. Additionally, their anti-inflammatory activities were tested via RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS and found that they could significantly inhibit the release of IL-1β and TNF-α.

Review of isolation, purification, structural characteristics and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L

Portulaca oleracea L., also known as purslane, affiliates to the Portulacaceae family. It is an herbaceous succulent annual plant distributed worldwide. P. oleracea L. is renowned for its nutritional value and medicinal value, which has been utilized for thousands of years as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The extract derived from P. oleracea L. has shown efficacy in treating various diseases, including intestinal dysfunction and inflammation. Polysaccharides from P. oleracea L. (POP) are the primary constituents of the crude extract which have been found to have various biological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor, immune-stimulating, and intestinal protective effects. While many publications have highlighted on the structural identification and bioactivity evaluation of POP, the underlying structure-activity relationship of POP still remains unclear. In view of this, this review aims to focus on the extraction, purification, structural features and bioactivities of POP. In addition, the potential structure-activity relationship and the developmental perspective for future research of POP were also explored and discussed. The current review would provide a valuable research foundation and the up-to-date information for the future development and application of POP in the field of the functional foods and medicine.

A review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and potential uses of Portulaca oleracea L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO), popularly known as purslane, has been documented in ethnopharmacology in various countries and regions. Traditional application records indicated that PO might be used extensively to treat the common cold, dysentery, urinary tract infections, coughing, eye infections, skin problems, gynecological diseases, and pediatric illnesses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper includes a systematic review of the traditional usage, phytochemicals, pharmacological activity, and potential uses of PO to provide an overview of the research for further exploitation of PO resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article uses "Portulaca oleracea L." and "purslane" as the keywords and collects relevant information on PO from different databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, ACS, Wiley, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and ancient meteria medica.

RESULTS

PO is a member of the Portulacaceae family and is grown worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that purslane has the effect of improving eyesight, eliminating evil qi, quenching thirst, purgation, diuresis, hemostasis, regulating qi, promoting hair growth, detoxifying, and avoiding epidemic qi. Recent phytochemical investigations have shown that PO is a rich source of flavonoids, homoisoflavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, esters, lignans, terpenoids, catecholamines, sterols, and cerebrosides. The purslane extracts or compounds have exhibited numerous biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, metabolic, muscle relaxant, anti-asthmatic and anti-osteoporosis properties. The significant omega-3 fatty acids, vital amino acids, minerals, and vitamins found in purslane also provide nutritional benefits. Purslane as a food/feed additive in the food industry and animal husbandry has caused concern. Its global wide distribution and tolerance to abiotic stress characteristics make it in the future sustainable development of agriculture a certain position.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on traditional usage, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activity, PO is a potential medicinal and edible plant with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to purslane's various advantages, it may have vast application potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries and animal husbandry.

Two novel alkaloids from Portulaca oleracea L. and their anti-inflammatory bioactivities

Two novel alkaloids were identified as (E)-N-(4-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)-2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylamide (1), named Oleracrylimide D, (E)-N-(4-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)-2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylamide (2), named Oleracrylimide E, isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. The structures were identified by spectroscopic methods, including 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS methods, also, the anti-inflammatory bioactivities of the compounds were studied by ELISA method.

Preparation Optimization and Immunological Activity Studies of Portulaca oleracea L. Polysaccharides Liposomes

AIMS

This study combines traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides with nanomaterials to enhance drug bioavailability and immunological activity.

BACKGROUND

The study of polysaccharide preparation, structure identification, pharmacological activity, and mechanism of action is deepening, but the research combined with the new drug delivery system is relatively weak, so the application of polysaccharides is still facing great limitations. In order to prolong the action time of polysaccharides and improve their bioavailability, liposome has become the most promising delivery carrier.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to optimize the preparation process of Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharides liposomes (POL-PL) and evaluate the immunoactivity in vitro.

METHODS

POL-PL was prepared by reverse evaporation, and the preparation process was optimized using the response surface methodology. The characteristic analysis of POL-PL was detected by the indicators including morphology, particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, release, and stability. The effects of POL-PL on the proliferation and immunological activity of mouse spleen lymphocytes and RAW264.7 cells were evaluated in vitro.

RESULTS

POL-PL is highly homogeneous in morphology and particle size, and its sustained release improves the bioavailability of Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharides (POL-P). Moreover, POL-PL treatment significantly enhanced the proliferation and phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells and increased the secretion of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that POL-PL were prepared successfully by reverse evaporation method, and POL-PL had immunoenhancing activity in vitro. The results provided a theoretical basis for further application of POL-PL.

A new alkaloid and two organic acids from Portulaca oleracea L. and their bioactivities

A new alkaloid, identified as 1-benzyl-2-nitroso-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol, named oleraisoquinoline (1), and five organic acids and two esters, identified as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid (2), 1H-pyrrole-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (3), (7E,10E)-octadeca-7,10-dienoic acid (4), (10E,13E)-octadeca-10,13-dienoic acid (5), (7E,10E)-hexadeca-7,10-dienoic acid (6), methyl tridecanoate (7) and methyl (9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoate (8), were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., among which compounds 2 and 4‒7 were isolated for the first time. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1‒3 were studied, especially, compound 1 presented good inhibitory effects on the production of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α.

The effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on glycemic indices: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Although several studies have revealed the benefits of purslane on glycemic indices, the results of some studies reject such effect. Therefore, aim of this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to assess the effects of purslane supplementation on glycemic indices. Scientific international databases as Scopus, Web of Sciences, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched up to December 2022. For net changes in glycemic indices, weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated using random-effects models. Purslane supplementation had a statistically significant reduction in fasting blood glucose [FBG, WMD: -6.37; 95% CI: -9.34, -3.40, p < 0.001]. In addition, purslane did not significant effect on serum levels of insulin [WMD: -0.74; 95% CI: -2.58, 1.10; p = 0.430], homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR, WMD: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.88, 0.37, p = 0.429], and QUICKI [WMD: -0.01; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.03, p = 0.317] compared with the control group. The results of our meta-analysis revealed a beneficial effect of purslane supplementation as a tool to decrease FBG levels, but not to HOMA-IR, insulin, and QUICKI levels. However, future high-quality, long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.

A novel skeleton alkaloid from Portulaca oleracea L. and its bioactivities

A novel skeleton alkaloid was obtained from Portulaca oleracea L., which was identified as 10,11-dihydroxybenzo[5',6'] pentaleno[1',2':3,4]pyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazol-7(11bH)-one, named oleracone M, and its structure was determined using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. Then the bioactivities of the compound were investigated including the anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities. The results showed that the novel skeleton alkaloid exhibited the potent effect on inhibiting the secretion of IL-1β at 10 μM, anticholinesterase activity with IC50 value of 49.58 μM, and antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 66.43 μM.

Phytochemical Characteristics and Anti-Inflammatory, Immunoregulatory, and Antioxidant Effects of Portulaca oleracea L.: A Comprehensive Review

Portulaca oleracea L. (P. oleracea) or purslane is a plant from the Portulacaceae family, which is used as food and traditional medicine for various diseases. This review article provides comprehensive information on the antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties of P. oleracea and its constituents. The literature survey of the different databases until the end of June 2023 was explored based on the keywords including the "P. oleracea, purslane, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties." The plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and some other compounds. The results indicated that P. oleracea and its constituents showed anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties through reduction of inflammatory mediators including interferon gama (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nitric oxide. Improvement in cytokines' serum levels (IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-4) and increased IgG and IgM serum levels, as well as reduction of IgE, phospholipase A2, and total protein were demonstrated for P. oleracea. The plant and its constituents also improved oxidative stress by reduction of oxidant and increase of antioxidant markers. P. oleracea could be considered as an effective remedy for various inflammatory and immune diseases.

Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activity and Application of Polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane): A Review

Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant with a long history of cultivation and consumption. Notably, polysaccharides obtained from purslane exhibit surprising and satisfactory biological activities, which explain the various benefits of purslane on human health, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, antifatigue, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. This article systematically reviews the extraction and purification methods, chemical structure, chemical modification, biological activity and other aspects of polysaccharides from purslane collected in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar and CNKI databases in the last 14 years, using the keywords "Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharides" and "purslane polysaccharides". The application of purslane polysaccharides in different fields is also summarized, and its application prospects are also discussed. This paper provides an updated and deeper understanding of purslane polysaccharides, which will provide useful guidance for the further optimization of polysaccharide structures and the development of purslane polysaccharides as a novel functional material, as well as a theoretical basis for its further research and application in human health and manufacturing development.

Two new natural products from Portulaca oleracea L. and their bioactivities

Two new natural products, belonging to alkaloids, identified as ((2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl acetate (1) and (5-hydroxypyridin-2-yl)methyl acetate (2), were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. The structures were identified by spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR, and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS methods. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory and anticholinesterase bioactivities were found in these two compounds.

An Overview of Antitumour Activity of Polysaccharides

Cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly increasing worldwide; therefore, effective therapies are required in the current scenario of increasing cancer cases. Polysaccharides are a family of natural polymers that hold unique physicochemical and biological properties, and they have become the focus of current antitumour drug research owing to their significant antitumour effects. In addition to the direct antitumour activity of some natural polysaccharides, their structures offer versatility in synthesizing multifunctional nanocomposites, which could be chemically modified to achieve high stability and bioavailability for delivering therapeutics into tumor tissues. This review aims to highlight recent advances in natural polysaccharides and polysaccharide-based nanomedicines for cancer therapy.

Plant polysaccharides with anti-lung injury effects as a potential therapeutic strategy for COVID-19

When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develops into the severe phase, lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and/or respiratory failure could develop within a few days. As a result of pulmonary tissue injury, pathomorphological changes usually present endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory cell infiltration of the lung interstitium, defective gas exchange, and wall leakage. Consequently, COVID-19 may progress to tremendous lung injury, ongoing lung failure, and death. Exploring the treatment drugs has important implications. Recently, the application of traditional Chinese medicine had better performance in reducing fatalities, relieving symptoms, and curtailing hospitalization. Through constant research and study, plant polysaccharides may emerge as a crucial resource against lung injury with high potency and low side effects. However, the absence of a comprehensive understanding of lung-protective mechanisms impedes further investigation of polysaccharides. In the present article, a comprehensive review of research into plant polysaccharides in the past 5 years was performed. In total, 30 types of polysaccharides from 19 kinds of plants have shown lung-protective effects through the pathological processes of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and immunomodulation by mediating mucin and aquaporins, macrophage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, neutrophil, TGF-β1 pathways, Nrf2 pathway, and other mechanisms. Moreover, the deficiencies of the current studies and the future research direction are also tentatively discussed. This research provides a comprehensive perspective for better understanding the mechanism and development of polysaccharides against lung injury for the treatment of COVID-19.

Potential Functional Food Products and Molecular Mechanisms of Portulaca Oleracea L. on Anticancer Activity: A Review

Portulaca oleracea Linn. (P. oleracea L.) has recently gained attention as a functional food due to the chemical composition of this plant regarding bioactive compounds. The special attention to the use of P. oleracea as an ingredient in functional food products is also due to the promotion of sustainable food. It is an unconventional food plant, and its consumption may contribute to preserving biodiversity due to its cultivation in a polyculture system. Food sovereignty may be achieved, among other strategies, with the consumption of unconventional food plants that are more resistant in nature and easily cultivated in small places. P. oleracea grows spontaneously and may be found in streets and sidewalks, or it may be cultivated with seeds and cuttings propagation. The culinary versatility of P. oleracea opens up opportunities to explore the development of sustainable, functional food products. This mini-review shows that functional food products developed from P. oleracea are already available at the research level, but it is expected that more scientific literature focusing on the development of P. oleracea functional products with proven anticancer activities may be released in the near future. Polysaccharides, some phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and cerebrosides are associated with the inhibition and prevention of carcinogenesis through in vitro and in vivo investigations. The anticancer activities of P. oleracea, its bioactive compounds, and the involved molecular mechanisms have been reported in the literature. The importance of further elucidating the cancer inhibition mechanisms is in the interest of forthcoming applications in the development of food products with anticancer properties for implementation in the human diet.

Portulaca oleracea L. Extract Alleviated Type 2 Diabetes Via Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Serum Branched-Chain Amino Acid Metabolism

SCOPE

Portulaca oleracea L. extracts (PE) show hypoglycemic function, but the precise mechanism remains obscure. This study is designed to investigate the association of the antidiabetes effect of PE with the gut microbiota modulation and BCAAs metabolism.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Orbitrap LC-MS to Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid mass spectrometer is employed to analyze the major compounds in PE. The components of the intestinal microflora in diet-induced/STZ-treated diabetic mice are analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA genes sequencing. The results show that PE improves blood glucose and insulin level, increases anti-inflammatory cytokine level, lowers serum branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and increases serum glutamine level. PE also protects the mucosal epithelium of the colon and cecum from damage. On the impact of gut microbial composition, PE reduces the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Blautia, Ruminiclostridium_9, Dubosiella, and increases the abundance of the Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Mucisprillum genera. Bacterial functionality prediction indicates PE potentially inhibits bacterial BCAAs biosynthesis, and promotes the tissue-specific expression of BCAAs catabolic enzyme for reducing BCAAs supplementation.

CONCLUSION

These results reveal that PE improving T2D-related biochemical abnormalities is associated not only with gut microbiota modification but also with the tissue-specific expression of BCAAs catabolic enzyme.

Comprehensive analysis of natural polysaccharides from TCMs: a generic approach based on UPLC-MS/MS

Here, we report a new application using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS) using aldononitrile acetate derivatives for simultaneous baseline separation and detection of eight neutral saccharides, two uronic acids, one ketose, and eight alditols within 14 min. The separation was performed on a Cortecs C₁₈ column using acetonitrile (A) and water (B) as the mobile phase with gradient elution. The target components were detected in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode by mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operating in positive ionization mode. A comparison with traditional methods was used to determine the validity of the results. The UHPLC-ESI-MS method was used for quantitative analysis of free carbohydrates in water extracts of Crataegus pinnatifida as well as determination of Polygonatum cyrtonema and Glossy ganoderma monosaccharides in polysaccharides. The results demonstrate that this protocol is a comprehensive and effective technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant polysaccharides from TCMs.

A review on bioactive phytochemicals and ethnopharmacological potential of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.)

The Portulaca oleracea L. commonly known as purslane is distributed all over the world and easily grows in diverse soil and climatic conditions. It has been traditionally used as a nutritious and ethnomedicinal food across the globe. Various studies have shown that the plant is a rich source of various important phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins such as A, C, E, and B, carotenoids and minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc. It is particularly very important because of the presence of a very high concentration of omega-3- fatty acids especially α-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which are not generally synthesized in terrestrial plants. Various parts of purslane are known for ethnomedicinal and pharmacological uses because of its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, skeletal muscle relaxant, antitumor, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-insomnia, analgesic, gastroprotective, neuroprotective, wound healing and antiseptic activities. Due to multiple benefits of purslane, it has become an important wonder crop and various scientists across the globe have shown much interest in it as a healthy food for the future. In this review, we provide an update on the phytochemical and nutritional composition of purslane, its usage as nutritional and an ethnomedicinal plant across the world. We further provide a detailed account on ethnopharmacological studies that have proved the ethnomedicinal properties of purslane.

Three novel alkaloids from Portulaca oleracea L. and their anti-inflammatory bioactivities

Three novel alkaloids, identified as (E)-N-((2R)-3-(2,5-dihydroxy-4-((3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)phenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylamide (1), named oleracrylimide A, (E)-N-((2R)-3-(2,5-dihydroxy-4-((3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)phenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylamide (2), named oleracrylimide B, and (E)-N-((2R)-3-(2,5-dihydroxy-4-((3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(((3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)methyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)phenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylamide (3), named oleracrylimide C were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. and the structures of the three novel compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, circular dichroism, and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS spectroscopic methods. Moreover, the bioactivities of anti-inflammation of the three compounds were investigated via testing RAW 264.7 macrophage cell stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide.

Two amide glycosides from Portulaca oleracea L. and its bioactivities

Two novel amide glycosides, named oleraciamide E (1) and oleraciamide F (2), were isolated from the Portulaca oleracea L. Their structures were determined by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and UHPLC-ESI-TOF-MS methods. Oleraciamide E (1) exhibited anticholinesterase activity with IC₅₀ values of 52.43 ± 0.33 μM, and presented scavenging activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical quenching assay, with the IC₅₀ values of 24.64 ± 0.33 μM.

Tannins in Terminalia bellirica inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth by regulating EGFR-signaling and tumor immunity

The fruits of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (TB) are used as a multi-use therapeutic herbal product in the Tibetan medicinal system and are prescribed as a general health tonic in the traditional Ayurvedic medicinal system. It has been demonstrated that these fruits have a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and immunoregulatory effects, etc. However, the therapeutic effects of tannins in TB on HCC and the underlying mechanisms remain uncharacterized. In the current study, we aimed to identify the anti-tumor effect of tannins in TB by employing a H22 xenograft mouse model and by performing cell-based in vitro studies with the assistance of the network pharmacology analysis. The crude extract of TB was purified to yield total tannin fraction (TB-TF), and our results found that TB-TF significantly inhibited the tumor growth of H22 xenografts in mice by inducing apoptosis and reducing angiogenesis. A total of 90 compounds were then identified in TB-TF by UPLC-MS/MS, and 27 were found in serum after oral administration of TB-TF in mice. The network pharmacology analysis based on these absorbed components was performed and, along with experimental evidence, it revealed that the ERBB, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways may be involved in the anti-tumor effect of TB-TF on HCC. Furthermore, we suggested that TB-TF effectively modulated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in H22 xenograft mice. In summary, our study demonstrated that TB-TF could be developed as a functional food, which is not only a promising anti-cancer reagent but also a potential candidate with bright prospects for the emerging trends of immunotherapy for HCC.

Water-soluble alkaloids isolated from Portulaca oleracea L

Fifteen new water-soluble alkaloids were obtained from the fresh herbs of Portulaca oleracea L. The structures of 15 alkaloids 1-15 were established according to spectroscopic data, and the stereoconfigurations were determined based on experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Alkaloids 1-15 were found to display good anti-inflammatory activity at 10 μM and could significantly reduce the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) levels induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of biotin-conjugated Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides

Biotinylated Portulaca oleracea polysaccharide (Bio-POP) conjugates were successfully prepared by the esterification reaction. The biotinylated polysaccharide products were an off-white powder with an average degree of substitution of 42.5%. After grafting biotin onto POP, the thermal stability of Bio-POP conjugates was much higher than that of POP and the surface topography of Bio-POP was a loose and porous cross-linked structure. The cytotoxicity assay in vitro demonstrated that POP, biotin, and Bio-POP conjugates exhibited different cytotoxicity to HeLa, MCF-7, LO-2, and A549, in particular POP inhibited the growth of the A549 cell line more than other cell lines. The nuclear staining method demonstrated that Bio-POP conjugates can interfere with the apoptosis of A549 cells to some extent and the immunofluorescence staining photograph illustrated that Bio-POP conjugates induced A549 cells to exhibit immune activity. Therefore, the combination of biotin and Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides had immune synergistic therapeutic effects on A549 cells and can be applied in the field of anti-tumor conjugate drugs.

Seven compounds from Portulaca oleracea L. and their anticholinesterase activities

A novel lignan, identified as 4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3a,4-dihydronaphtho[2,3-c]furan-1(3H)-one, named oleralignan A (1), together with six known compounds, loliolide (2), isololiolide (3), dehydrololiolide (4), daphnetin (5), esculetin (6), and trans-coumaric acid methyl ester (7) was obtained from Portulaca oleracea L., while compounds 3, 4, 6, and 7 were isolated from the plant for the first time. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, including one- and two-dimensional NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In addition, the results of activity assay demonstrated that compounds 1-7 have anticholinesterase activities.

Hydrogen Peroxide Effects on Natural-Sourced Polysacchrides: Free Radical Formation/Production, Degradation Process, and Reaction Mechanism-A Critical Synopsis

Numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) entities exist, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is very key among them as it is well known to possess a stable but poor reactivity capable of generating free radicals. Considered among reactive atoms, molecules, and compounds with electron-rich sites, free radicals emerging from metabolic reactions during cellular respirations can induce oxidative stress and cause cellular structure damage, resulting in diverse life-threatening diseases when produced in excess. Therefore, an antioxidant is needed to curb the overproduction of free radicals especially in biological systems (in vivo and in vitro). Despite the inherent properties limiting its bioactivities, polysaccharides from natural sources increasingly gain research attention given their position as a functional ingredient. Improving the functionality and bioactivity of polysaccharides have been established through degradation of their molecular integrity. In this critical synopsis; we articulate the effects of H2O2 on the degradation of polysaccharides from natural sources. Specifically, the synopsis focused on free radical formation/production, polysaccharide degradation processes with H2O2, the effects of polysaccharide degradation on the structural characteristics; physicochemical properties; and bioactivities; in addition to the antioxidant capability. The degradation mechanisms involving polysaccharide's antioxidative property; with some examples and their respective sources are briefly summarised.

Platinum (II)-coordinated Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides as metal-drug based polymers for anticancer study

Novel polysaccharide-platinum conjugated polymers bearing alendronate on Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides (PPS) were designed and synthesized. Their chemical structures and properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrophotometer (UV-vis) and other analysis methods. The results demonstrated that alendronate can be used as the linker of Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides and platinum compounds. Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides-alendronate (PPS-ALN) conjugates exhibited stronger antioxidant ability than PPS. The cytotoxicity assay to cancer cells was tested in vitro, and the Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides-alendronate-platinum (PPS-ALN-Pt) conjugates strongly inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells than PPS and PPS-ALN. The evaluation of complexes affinity toward supercoiled plasmid DNA, displayed a high DNA interaction. Interestingly, the platinum conjugates displayed immunological competence in HeLa cells by cellular immunofluorescence assay. Besides, the cellular platinum accumulation of PPS-ALN-Pt conjugates was higher than that of cisplatin in HeLa cells, implying that the polysaccharide-platinum conjugated polymers might have a synergistically therapeutic application in metal anticancer drug delivery.

Pectic polysaccharides from edible halophytes: Insight on extraction processes, structural characterizations and immunomodulatory potentials

The preparation, chemical properties and bio-activities of polysaccharides derived from halophytes have gained an increasing interest in the past few years. Phytochemical and pharmacological reports have shown that carbohydrates are important biologically active compounds of halophytes with numerous biological potentials. It is believed that the mechanisms involved in these bio-activities are due to the modulation of immune system. The main objective of this summary is to appraise available literature of a comparative study on the extraction, structural characterizations and biological potentials, particularly immunomodulatory effects, of carbohydrates isolated from halophytes (10 families). This review also attempts to discuss on bioactivities of polysaccharides related with their structure-activity relationship. Data indicated that the highest polysaccharides yield of around 35% was obtained under microwave irradiation. Structurally, results revealed that the most of extracted carbohydrates are pectic polysaccharides which mainly composed of arabinose (from 0.9 to 72%), accompanied by other monosaccharides (galactose, glucose, rhamnose, mannose and xylose), significant amounts of uronic acids (from 18.9 to 90.1%) and some proportions of fucose (from 0.2 to 8.3%). The molecular mass of these pectic polysaccharides was varied from 10 to 2650 kDa. Hence, the evaluation of these polysaccharides offers a great opportunity to discover novel therapeutic agents that presented especially beneficial immunomodulatory properties. Moreover, reports indicated that uronic acids, molecular weights, as well as the presence of sulfate and unmethylated acidic groups may play a significant role in biological activities of carbohydrates from halophyte species.

Component Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of CO2 Extract of Portulaca oleracea, Growing in the Territory of Kazakhstan

In the medicine of many countries, the use of herbal healing agents included a significant contribution to improving human health and well-being. Many antibiotics have been widely used to treat infectious diseases caused by various pathogenic bacteria. However, increased multidrug resistance has led to increased severity of diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. Bacteria remain the main causative agents of diseases that cause human death, even in the present day. This cause prompted scientists to investigate alternative new molecules against bacterial strains. The significant interest for the study is Portulaca oleracea L. (family Portulacaceae), a widespread annual plant used in folk medicine. Thus, the production and study of CO₂ extract of Portulaca oleracea is an actual problem. Methods. Raw materials were collected from Almaty and Zhambyl regions (Southeast and South Kazakhstan) in phase flowering. Portulaca oleracea herb's CO₂ extract was obtained by subcritical carbon dioxide extraction (installation of carbon dioxide flow-through extraction- 5L). The Wiley 7^th edition and NIST'02 library were used to identify the mass spectra obtained. The antimicrobial activity study was conducted by the micromethod of serial dilution and disco-diffuse method. Standard test strains of microorganisms were used: Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, and Escherichia coli ATCC 8739. Results. The use of carbon dioxide extraction (further CO₂ extract) is a promising direction of obtaining total medicinal substances containing biologically active substances, from fractions of volatile esters of various composition and functional purpose until a fraction of fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. In the current study, we obtained CO₂ extract at subcritical conditions from aboveground organs of Portulaca oleracea and investigated the component composition for the first time. From 41 to 66 components were identified in the composition of Portulaca oleracea‘s CO₂ extract. Studies of antimicrobial activity showed that CO₂ extract of Portulaca oleracea had the expressed effect against clinically significant microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. Conclusions. This study showed that CO₂ extract of Portulaca oleracea's raw material contained biological active compounds exhibiting a significant antimicrobial effect.

Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Effects of Polysaccharides

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and one of the most important public health problems in the world. And every year, millions of new cancers and hundreds of thousands of cancer-related deaths are reported worldwide. In recent decades, a number of biologically active polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes have been isolated from plants, lichen, algae, yeast, fungi and mushroom, and due to their antitumor and immunomodulatory properties, these compounds have received considerable attention. Overall, the two key mechanisms by which polysaccharides act on tumor cells are direct action (inhibition of cancer cell growth and induction of programmed cell death/apoptosis) and indirect action (stimulation of immunity). Immunosuppressive effects are recognizable in both cancer patients and tumor bearing animals, suggesting that the immune system plays an important role in the immune surveillance of cancer cells. Thus, enhancement of the host immune response has been evaluated as a possible way of inhibiting tumor growth without damaging the host. In addition to their therapeutic and prophylactic properties, the polysaccharides are effective and less toxic than chemotherapy. The anticancer activity and immunomodulatory effects of most polysaccharides have shown the promising and real potential for the benefits of human health.

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.

Edible Leafy Plants from Mexico as Sources of Antioxidant Compounds, and Their Nutritional, Nutraceutical and Antimicrobial Potential: A Review

A review of indigenous Mexican plants with edible stems and leaves and their nutritional and nutraceutical potential was conducted, complemented by the authors' experiences. In Mexico, more than 250 species with edible stems, leaves, vines and flowers, known as "quelites," are collected or are cultivated and consumed. The assessment of the quelite composition depends on the chemical characteristics of the compounds being evaluated; the protein quality is a direct function of the amino acid content, which is evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the contribution of minerals is evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or ICP mass spectrometry. The total contents of phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, saponins and other general compounds have been analyzed using UV-vis spectrophotometry and by HPLC. For the determination of specific compounds such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, organic acids and other profiles, it is recommended to use HPLC-DAD, UHPLC-DAD, UFLC-PDA or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The current biochemical analysis and biological evaluations were performed to understand the mechanisms of action that lead to decreased glucose levels and lipid peroxidation, increased hypoglycemic and antitumor activity, immune system improvement, increased antibacterial and antifungal activity and, in some cases, anti-Helicobacter pylori activity.

Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Honey Bee Larva Powder

Honey bee larva powder (HLP) has traditionally been used as a daily supplement and tonic for health promotion with an uncertain scientific basis. In this study, B16-F10 tumor-bearing mice were established to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of HLP. The proliferation and apoptosis assays were performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of honey bee larva extract (HLE) in RAW 264.7 macrophage. The in vivo experimental results demonstrated that the oral administration of freeze-dried HLP (4 and 6 g/kg) significantly enhanced the spleen index, the percentage of CD4⁺cells, and the ratio of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes (CD4⁺/CD8⁺) in the peripheral blood compared with those in the tumor control mice. The in vitro studies demonstrated the potent immunomodulatory activities of HLE through the induction of RAW 264.7 macrophage proliferation and the mitigation of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced toxicity. HLE also exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the cytokine level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage. The present study provides important scientific evidence for the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities of HLP and HLE.

Characterization of a polysaccharide with antioxidant and anti-cervical cancer potentials from the corn silk cultivated in Jilin province

Corn silk polysaccharides (CSPs) were extracted from the corn silk cultivated in Jilin province, China, where is one of the golden corn belts worldwide. Three fractions (CSP-1, CSP-2 and CSP-3) were obtained by DEAE-52 cellulose and the former two fractions were further purified by Sephadex G-150 column chromatography to obtain CSP-S-1 and CSP-S-2. The molecular weights of CSP-S-1 and CSP-S-2 were calculated to be 586 kDa and 813 kDa, respectively. CSP-S-1 was composed of galactose, arabinose, xylose and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 4.16:1.00:1.01:6.32 and CSP-S-2 was composed of galactose, arabinose, glucose and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 8.71:3.58:0.169:1.00. CSP-S-2 outperformed CSP-S-1 in scavenging DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radicals, and significantly inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells. IR and NMR analysis indicated that CSP-S-2 was pyranose. CSP-S-2 consisted of 1 → 4 and 1 → 6 linkages and exhibited a triple helix configuration. In summary, CSP-S-2 possesses high potential to be developed as a novel antioxidant and anti-cervical cancer agent.

Chemical modifications of polysaccharides and their anti-tumor activities

With the rising trend of incidence of cancers, effective therapies are urgently needed to control human malignancies. However, the chemotherapy drugs currently on the market cause serious side effects. Polysaccharides belong to a class of biomacromolecules, which have drawn considerable research interest over the years as it possess anti-cancer activities or can increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy drugs with fewer side effects. The antitumor activity of many polysaccharides was significantly increased after modification. Based on these encouraging observations, a great deal of effort has been focused on discovering anti-cancer polysaccharides and modified derivatives for the development of effective therapeutics for various human cancers. This review highlights recent advances on the major chemical modification methods of polysaccharides, and discusses the effect of molecular modification on the physicochemical properties and anti-tumor activities of polysaccharides. Meanwhile, the underlying anti-tumor mechanisms of polysaccharide and its modified derivatives were also discussed.

Plant extract-based diets differently modulate immune responses and resistance to bacterial infection in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

A feeding trial was performed to compare the effects of five ethanol herbal extracts (bhumi amla, Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn [Pa]; guava, Psidium guajava L. [Pg]; sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica L. [Mp]; neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss [Ai] and asthma plant, Euphorbia hirta L. [Eh]) on the immune response and disease resistance against Edwardsiella ictaluri infection of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Fish were fed diets supplemented with two doses of each plant extract (0% [basal diet], 0.4% Eh [Eh0.4], 2.0% Eh [Eh2.0], 0.2% Pa [Pa0.2], 1.0% Pa [Pa1.0], 0.2% Pg [Pg0.2], 1.0% Pg [Pg1.0], 0.4% Mp [Mp0.4], 2.0% Mp [Mp2.0], 0.4% Ai [Ai0.4], 2.0% Ai [Ai2.0]) for 8 weeks. Results showed that hematological parameters (total red blood cells, white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils) of fish fed extract-based diets were significantly higher than in those fed the control diet (p < 0.05) after 4 and 8 weeks. Plasma lysozyme activity increased in fish whose diets contained both doses of Eh (p < 0.05) in week 4 (W4), whereas lysozyme activity increased in fish fed 0.2% Pa and Pg, and 2.0% Ai and Eh (p < 0.05) in week 8 (W8). The lysozyme levels in skin mucus did not significantly differ between treatments (p > 0.05) in W4 and after the bacterial challenge test. At the end of the feeding trial, levels of ACH50 significantly increased in most of extract groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Total immunoglobulin increased considerably in both the plasma and skin mucus of fish fed extract-supplemented diets after 8 weeks. In addition, dietary supplementation with Pg, Mp, Pa0.2, Eh2.0, and Ai0.4 for 8 weeks considerably reduced the cumulative mortality against E. ictaluri infection in striped catfish. The results suggest that plant extracts possibly modulate the striped catfish immune response in a time and dose dependent manner. Specifically, diets enriched with extracts of P. guajava at 0.2 and 1.0%, or M. pudica at 2.0% for 8 weeks, have great potential for improving striped catfish health by enhancing the immune system and reducing mortality against bacterial challenges.

A Pharmacological Review on Portulaca oleracea L.: Focusing on Anti-Inflammatory, Anti- Oxidant, Immuno-Modulatory and Antitumor Activities

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) or Purslane is an annual grassy plant that is distributed in many parts of the world, especially the tropical and subtropical areas. PO has some pharmacological properties such as analgesic, antibacterial, skeletal muscle-relaxant, wound-healing, anti- inflammatory and a radical scavenger. This review article is focused on the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities of the PO. Anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and Anti-tumor effects of PO were searched using various databases until the end of August 2018. The online literature was searched using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Our review showed that PO exerts its effects through anti-inflammatory properties and balancing the adaptive and innate immune system depending on situations. PO acts as immune-modulator and anti-oxidant agent in both inflammatory states by the dominance of Th2 response such as asthma, cancer and atopic dermatitis and evoked Th1 disorders including hepatitis and multiple sclerosis.

Optimization Extraction, Purification and Antioxidant Activities of Polysaccharides from Penthorum Chinense Pursh

Penthorum chinense Pursh is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, however, little attention has been paid to the polysaccharides of P. chinense (PCP). Therefore, it is great significance to investigate the characteristics and activities of PCP. In this study, response surface methodology was applied to optimize the extraction parameters of PCP. Then, two polysaccharides fractions (PCP-1 and PCP-2) were purified from PCP by using DEAE-52 chromatography, and there preliminary chemical properties and in vitro antioxidant activities were investigated. Results revealed that the optimum extraction conditions of PCP were identified as follow: ratio of water to raw material 20.6 mL/g; extraction time 3.5 h and extraction temperature 85°C. Based on these conditions, the maximum yield of PCP was 3.12% ± 0.19%. Purified fractions PCP-1 and PCP-2 were all acidic heteropolysaccharides, and PCP-1 mainly consisted of galactose and arabinose while PCP-2 mainly consisted of rhamnose, galacturonic acid, galactose and arabinose. Moreover, PCP-2 exhibited stronger scavenging activities against DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion radical and chelating activity on Fe2+in vitro.