Sulfated modification, characterization and antitumor activities of Radix hedysari polysaccharide

Physicochemical Properties of Different Sulfated Polysaccharide Components from Laetiporus sulphureus and Their Anti-Proliferative Effects on MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

Laetiporus sulphureus is an edible and medicinal mushroom widely used in folk medicine for treating cancer and gastric diseases. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of different sulfated polysaccharide (SPS) components (F1, F2, and F3) isolated from L. sulphureus and evaluate their activity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell proliferation. Compared with F1 and F3, the results showed that F2 exhibited the most potent anti-proliferative activity on MDA-MB-231 cells, which could be attributed to the sulfate and protein contents, molecular weight, and monosaccharide composition. F2 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation by blocking the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase but not triggering cell apoptosis. In addition, F2 also showed selective cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells. It modulated the expression of proteins involved in G0/G1 phase progression, cell cycle checkpoints, DNA replication, and the TGFβ signaling pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. This study demonstrated that F2, the medium-molecular-weight SPS component of L. sulphureus, possessed the most potent inhibitory effect on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. The main factors contributing to the differences in the potency of anti-breast cancer activity between F1, F2, and F3 could be the sulfate and protein contents, molecular weight, and monosaccharide composition of SPS.

Natural polysaccharides and their derivatives targeting the tumor microenvironment: A review

Polysaccharides have gained attention as valuable supplements and natural medicinal resources, particularly for their anti-tumor properties. Their low toxicity and potent anti-tumor effects make them promising candidates for cancer prevention and treatment. The tumor microenvironment is crucial in tumor development and offers potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Research indicates that polysaccharides can positively influence the tumor microenvironment. However, the structural complexity of most anti-tumor polysaccharides, often heteropolysaccharides, poses challenges for structural analysis. To enhance their pharmacological activity, researchers have modified the structure and properties of natural polysaccharides based on structure-activity relationships, and they have discovered that many polysaccharides exhibit significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity after chemical modification. This article reviews recent strategies for targeting the tumor microenvironment with polysaccharides and briefly discusses the structure-activity relationships of anti-tumor polysaccharides. It also summarises the main chemical modification methods of polysaccharides and discusses the impact of chemical modifications on the anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides. The review aims to lay a theoretical foundation for the development of anti-tumor polysaccharides and their derivatives.

Steady-State Delivery and Chemical Modification of Food Nutrients to Improve Cancer Intervention Ability

Cancer is a crucial global health problem, and prevention is an important strategy to reduce the burden of the disease. Daily diet is the key modifiable risk factor for cancer, and an increasing body of evidence suggests that specific nutrients in foods may have a preventive effect against cancer. This review summarizes the current evidence on the role of nutrients from foods in cancer intervention. It discusses the potential mechanisms of action of various dietary components, including phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The findings of epidemiological and clinical studies on their association with cancer risk are highlighted. The foods are rich in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and ω-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to have anticancer properties. The effects of steady-state delivery and chemical modification of these food's bioactive components on anticancer and intervention are summarized. Future research should focus on identifying the specific bioactive compounds in foods responsible for their intervention effects and exploring the potential synergistic effects of combining different nutrients in foods. Dietary interventions that incorporate multiple nutrients and whole foods may hold promise for reducing the risk of cancer and improving overall health.

Research progress on the structure, derivatives, pharmacological activity, and drug carrier capacity of Chinese yam polysaccharides: A review

Chinese yam is a traditional Chinese medicine that has a long history of medicinal and edible usage in China and is widely utilised in food, medicine, animal husbandry, and other industries. Chinese yam polysaccharides (CYPs) are among the main active components of Chinese yam. In recent decades, CYPs have received considerable attention because of their remarkable biological activities, such as immunomodulatory, antitumour, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and bacteriostatic effects. The structure and chemical alterations of polysaccharides are the main factors affecting their biological activities. CYPs are potential drug carriers owing to their excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. There is a considerable amount of research on CYPs; however, a systematic summary is lacking. This review summarises the structural characteristics, derivative synthesis, biological activities, and their usage as drug carriers, providing a basis for future research, development, and application of CYPs.

Different Degrees of Sulfated Laminaria Polysaccharides Recovered Damaged HK-2 Cells and Inhibited Adhesion of Nano-COM and Nano-COD Crystals

Purpose

The crystal adhesion caused by the damage of renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) is the key to the formation of kidney stones. However, no effective preventive drug has been found. This study aims to explore the recovery effects of four Laminaria polysaccharides (SLPs) with different sulfate (-OSO3-) contents on damaged HK-2 cells and the difference in the adhesion of damaged cells to nanometer calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) before and after recovery.

Methods

Sodium oxalate (2.6 mmol/L) was used to damage HK-2 cells to establish a damaged model. SLPs (LP0, SLP1, SLP2, and SLP3) with -OSO3- contents of 0.73%, 15.1%, 22.8%, and 31.3%, respectively, were used to restore the damaged cells, and the effects of SLPs on the adhesion of COM and COD, with a size of about 100 nm before and after recovery, were measured.

Results

The following results were observed after SLPs recovered the damaged HK-2 cells: increased cell viability, restored cell morphology, decreased reactive oxygen levels, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased phosphatidylserine eversion ratio, increased cell migration ability, reduced expression of annexin A1, transmembrane protein, and heat shock protein 90 on the cell surface, and reduced adhesion amount of cells to COM and COD. Under the same conditions, the adhesion ability of cells to COD crystals was weaker than that to COM crystals.

Conclusions

As the sulfate content in SLPs increases, the ability of SLPs to recover damaged HK-2 cells and inhibit crystal adhesion increases. SLP3 with high -OSO3- content may be a potential drug to prevent kidney stones.

Unraveling the bioactive interplay: seaweed polysaccharide, polyphenol and their gut modulation effect

Seaweed is rich in many unique bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and sulfated polysaccharides that are not found in terrestrial plant. The discovery of numerous biological activities from seaweed has made seaweed an attractive functional food source with the potential to be exploited for human health benefits. During food processing and digestion, cell wall polysaccharide and polyphenols commonly interact, and this may influence the nutritional properties of food. Interactions between cell wall polysaccharide and polyphenols in plant-based system has been extensively studied. However, similar interactions in seaweed have received little attention despite the vast disparity between the structural and chemical composition of plant and seaweed cell wall. This poses a challenge in extracting seaweed bioactive compounds with intact biological properties. This review aims to summarize the cell wall polysaccharide and polyphenols present in brown, red and green seaweed, and current knowledge on their potential interactions. Moreover, this review gives an overview of the gut modulation effect of seaweed polysaccharide and polyphenol.

Assessment of the Effects of Structural Modification of Gastrodia elata Polysaccharide on Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Using Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation

Gastrodia elata ("Tian Ma" in Chinese) is used as a food and medical ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, to enhance the anti-breast cancer activity of Gastrodia elata polysaccharide (GEP), GEPs were modified via sulfidation (SGEP) and acetylation (AcGEP). The physicochemical properties (such as solubility and substitution degree) and structural information (such as molecular weight M_w and radius of gyration R_g) of GEP derivatives were determined by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled online with multiangle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractive index (dRI) detectors (AF4-MALS-dRI). The effects of the structural modification of GEP on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of MCF-7 cell were studied systematically. The ability of MCF-7 cell for the uptake of GEP was studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The results suggested that the solubility and anti-breast cancer activity of GEP were enhanced and the average R_g and M_w of GEP decreased after chemical modification. The AF4-MALS-dRI results showed that the chemical modification process simultaneously caused the degradation and aggregation of GEPs. The LSCM results revealed that more SGEP can enter the MCF-7 cell interior compared with AcGEP. The results indicated that the structure of AcGEP could play a dominating role in antitumor activity. The data obtained in this work can be used as a starting point for investigating the structure-bioactivity of GEPs.

In-vitro evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of sulphation-modified total ginsenosides derivative-3

Background

Ginseng has been used in biomedicine to prevent and treat decreased physical and mental capacities. Total ginsenosides (TG) from ginseng root which have antitumor and immune-enhancing properties, are the principal active components of Panax ginseng, while the sulphation-modified TG derivative-3 (SMTG-d3) was expected to enhance the anticancer activity in conventional medicinal treatments.

Methods

The chlorosulphonic acid-pyridine technique, used for the sulfation modification of TG to improve their biological activity, and the infrared spectroscopic characteristics of TG and SMTG-d3 were investigated, and the effects of SMTG-d3 on immunocytes and cytokines relevant to tumor treatment were assessed. The MTT assay was used to assess the effect of TG and SMTG-d3 on the cytotoxicity and T-lymphocytic proliferation against mouse splenocytes. The LDH method was employed to evaluate NK activity induced by TG or SMTG-d3. The production levels of splenocytes-secreted IL-2 and IFN-γ and peritoneal macrophages-secreted TNF-α were determined using mouse ELISA kits.

Results and discussion

It showed that the ideal conditions for the sulfation modification of TG: the volume ratio of chlorosulfonic acid to pyridine lower than 1:2.5; controlled amount of chlorosulfonic acid; and a yield of 51.5% SMTG-d3 (2 h, < 45°C). SMTG-d3 showed two characteristic absorption peaks at 1,230 cm^-1 and 810 cm^-1, indicating the formation of sulfuric acid esters and the presence of sulfuric acid groups. SMTG-d3 exhibited higher antitumor immunological activity than TG by promoting the proliferation of T lymphocytes and the production of IFN-γ and TNF-α, thus enhancing NK cell activity, and reducing cytotoxicity. The findings imply sulfated modification represents an effective method of enhancing the immunomodulatory activities of TG and could be used as the basis for developing new drug target compounds; SMTG-d3 can serve as an antitumor immunomodulator and can be considered an effective and prospective herbal formulation in clinical applications.

Sulfated modification of hyaluronan tetrasaccharide enhances its antitumor activity on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells in vitro and in vivo

Hyaluronan (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan polymer involved in cell phenotype change, inflammation modulation, and tumor metastasis progression. HA oligosaccharides have a higher solubility and drug-forming ability than polysaccharides. HA tetrasaccharide was reported as the smallest fragment required for inhibiting triple-negative breast cancer, but the anti-tumor activity of HA tetrasaccharide (HA4) and its sulfated derivatives in lung cancer is still unknown. In this study, HA4 was prepared via HA degradation by chondroitinase ABC (CSABC), while its sulfated derivatives were prepared by sulfur pyridine trioxide complex in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Then, the anti-tumor activity was detected via MTT assay and xenograft tumor experiments, while the expression level change of apoptosis genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis showed several HA4 sulfated derivatives, GlcA2GlcNAc2 (SO3H)n contains 0-6 sulfation groups, which mainly contain 3-6, 2-3, and 0-1 sulfation groups were classified as HA4S1, HA4S2, and HA4S3, respectively. After the addition of 1.82 mg/mL HA4, HA4S1, HA4S2, and HA4S3, the cell viability of A549 cells was reduced to 81.2 %, 62.1 %, 50.3 %, and 65.9 %, respectively. Thus, HA4S2 was chosen for further measurement, the qRT-PCR results showed it significantly up-regulated the expression of genes in the apoptosis pathway. Moreover, HA4S2 exhibited stronger antitumor activity than HA4 in vivo and the tumor inhibition rate reached 36.90 %. In summary, this study indicated that the CSABC enzyme could effectively degrade HA into oligosaccharides, and sulfation modification was an effective method to enhance the antitumor activity of HA tetrasaccharides.

Extraction, purification, structural features and biological activities of longan fruit pulp (Longyan) polysaccharides: A review

Dimocarpus longan Lour. (also called as longan) is a subtropical and tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Sapindaceae family and is widely distributed in China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The pulp of longan fruit is a time-honored traditional medicinal and edible raw material in China and some Asian countries. With the advancement of food therapy in modern medicine, longan fruit pulp as an edible medicinal material is expected to usher in its rapid development as a functional nutrient. As one of the main constituents of longan fruit pulp, longan fruit pulp polysaccharides (LPs) play an indispensable role in longan fruit pulp-based functional utilization. This review aims to outline the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics and biological activities (such as immunoregulatory, anti-tumor, prebiotic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and inhibition of AChE activity) of LPs. Besides, the structure-activity relationship, application prospect and patent application of LPs were analyzed and summarized. Through the systematic summary, this review attempts to provide a theoretical basis for further research of LPs, and promote the industrial development of this class of polysaccharides.

Isolation, structures and bioactivities of the polysaccharides from Radix Hedysari: A review

Radix Hedysari, a well-known traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has a long history as a medicinal plant in China based on its wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities. Until now, many chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Radix Hedysari, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, trace elements and so on. Of these, Radix Hedysari polysaccharides are one of the most important active compounds of the Radix Hedysari and have various biological activities, including anti-tumor activity, antioxidant activity, anti-diabetic activity, immunity enhancement effect and regulation of intestinal flora. These beneficial biological activities are related to the chemical structure of the Radix Hedysari polysaccharides. The chemical structure of HPS is the basis of its biological activity, which is affected by many factors, such as the composition of monosaccharide, the size of relative molecular weight, the way of glycoside bond connection, the three-dimensional structure of polysaccharide, and so on. Different extraction and separation methods lead to different configurations of polysaccharides and different biological activities of polysaccharides. In general, the bioactivity of polysaccharides showed a certain dose-response or structure-activity relationship. At present, few studies of regarding the structure-function relationships of these polysaccharides have been reported, and it is not easy to relate the structures of HPS to their biological activities. Nevertheless, some relationships can be inferred as follows. This article is aimed to provide a systematic and up-to-date review on the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activities of the Radix Hedysari polysaccharides to support its further therapeutic potentials and sanitarian functions. Furthermore, the possible development and a perspective for future research of Radix Hedysari polysaccharides are also discussed.

Antitumor activity and immunomodulation mechanism of a novel polysaccharide extracted from Polygala tenuifolia Willd. evaluated by S180 cells and S180 tumor-bearing mice

We recently isolated a polysaccharide from Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (PTP) and reported that such a PTP could induce cell apoptosis with FAS/FAS-L-mediated death receptor pathway in human lung cancer cells. Herein, we indicate antitumor activity and immunoregulation of PTP for S180 sarcoma cells by in vitro and in vivo targeting. In vitro, S180 cells took on prominent characteristics of apoptosis under-treated with PTP in follow-up antitumor activity studies, including irregular shrinkage and fragmentation nuclear, apoptotic bodies formation, and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Additionally, flow cytometry indicated that the number of normal cells (FITC^-/PI^-) gradually decreased from 98.08% to 16.31%, while the number of apoptotic cells (FITC⁺/PI^- or FITC⁺/PI⁺) increased from 0.87% to 54.84%. The ratio of BAX and Bcl-2 increased, which promoted the release of Cytochrome C (CytC), and it further maximized the expression of activated-caspase-9/-3. Additionally, the PTP revised the immune organ indexes, the activities of NK cells and lymphocytes, and induced the secretion of IL-2 (7.34-16.17%), IFN-γ (14.34-20.85%) and TNF-α (12.32-22.58%) in vivo. Thus, PTP can induce cell apoptosis and activate the immunoregulation mechanism thereby exhibiting biological activity.

Reviews on mechanisms of in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities of water-soluble plant polysaccharides

Degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and antimicrobial resistance are becoming prominent health problems needing utmost public health attention. Curative interventions such as the use of pharmaceutical drugs and alternative plant medicines are increasingly being explored. Plant polysaccharides have gained attention for their promising bioactivities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Bioactive plant polysaccharides are also being preferred for their relatively few side effects compared to conventional pharmaceuticals. The elucidation of the bioactive potential of plant polysaccharides in disease treatment entails an understanding of the factors that determine their biofunctional properties using functional and mechanistic assays. This review summarizes the literature on the composition, structural, functional, and mechanistic determinations of the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of plant polysaccharides. The outcome of this review highlights the leading trends in the elucidation of the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of plant polysaccharides and underscores the promising health benefits of plant polysaccharides.

Exploiting the Amazing Diversity of Natural Source-Derived Polysaccharides: Modern Procedures of Isolation, Engineering, and Optimization of Antiviral Activities

Naturally occurring polysaccharide sulfates are highly diverse, owning variations in the backbone structure, linkage pattern and stereochemistry, branching diversity, sulfate content and positions of sulfate group(s). These structural characteristics bring about diverse sulfated polymers with dissimilar negative charge densities and structure-activity relationships. Herein, we start with a short discussion of techniques needed for extraction, purification, chemical sulfation, and structural characterization of polysaccharides. Processes of isolation and sulfation of plant-derived polysaccharides are challenging and usually involve two steps. In this context, we describe an integrated extraction-sulfation procedure that produces polysaccharide sulfates from natural products in one step, thereby generating additional pharmacological activities. Finally, we provide examples of the spectrum of natural source-derived polysaccharides possessing specific features of bioactivity, in particular focusing on current aspects of antiviral drug development and drug-target interaction. Thus, the review presents a detailed view on chemically engineered polysaccharides, especially sulfated derivatives, and underlines their promising biomedical perspectives.

The amelioration of ulcerative colitis induced by Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid with Radix Hedysari

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an unknown precise etiology. This study proves that Radix Hedysari (RH) ameliorates UC. Four RH extracts were used to ameliorate UC induced by 2,4-Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid by 7 days intervention in agreement to preliminary studies. Compared to treatment with RH extracts, the RH ethanol extract (EE) was found to be more effective in ameliorating UC. With EE, the DAI were significantly decreased. Macroscopic and histopathological assessments suggest that the colon mucosa was repaired, the organizational structure of the colon had been rebuilt. The levels of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MDA were significantly decreased (p < .01), the levels of T-SOD and CAT were significantly increased (p < .01). Moreover, the compounds in EE were analyzed by HPLC. The results show that EE can ameliorate UC, and its anti-inflammatory capability probably plays an important role. RH can act as a functional food and ameliorate UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this work, the ameliorative effect of RH on UC was evaluated from multiple angles. There are two practical applications of this work. On the one hand, a new approach to ameliorating UC is provided by this work. In addition, UC patients have a new option for improving their symptoms. On the other hand, this work also provides information on how best to process RH for therapeutic use. In addition, we can utilize some compounds of RH that were once considered useless and reduce the waste of natural resources.

Regioselective sulfation of β-glucan from Ganoderma lucidum and structure-anticoagulant activity relationship of sulfated derivatives

In the present study, regioselective sulfation of β-glucan (GLP) from Ganoderma lucidum were firstly established by using 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl chloride and hexamethyldisilazane as protecting precursor. 2,4,6-O-sulfated, 6-O-sulfated and 2,4-O-sulfated GLP derivatives were prepared and the molecular weights (M_w) of derivatives were determined to range from 0.94 × 10⁴ to 6.27 × 10⁴ g/mol, while the degrees of sulfation (DS) were calculated to vary from 0.83 to 1.74. The regioselective sulfation of GLP was confirmed by FT-IR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and methylation analysis. Results indicated that the sulfated substitution sites were predominantly at C-6 in 6-O-sulfated GLP (S_6-OGLP) and C-4 in 2,4-O-sulfated GLP (S_2,4-OGLP), respectively. Clotting assays (APTT, PT and TT) in vitro showed that sulfate groups were essential for anticoagulant activity and S_6-OGLP exhibited much higher than others. Meanwhile, sulfated GLP with higher DS and M_w showed stronger anticoagulant activity in the case of the same condition.

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.

Effect of Radix Hedysari Polysaccharide on Glioma by Cell Cycle Arrest and TNF-α Signaling Pathway Regulation

Objective. To investigate the possible development of radix hedysari polysaccharide as an antiglioma drug, we studied the effect of radix hedysari polysaccharide on glioma cells in vitro and the growth of glioma in nude mice and on the phagocytosis of macrophages in nude mice with glioma. Methods. The effect of radix hedysari polysaccharide on the growth of glioma was studied based on U251 cell line in vitro. The effect of radix hedysari polysaccharide on the growth of glioma was studied in vivo. The growth inhibition rate of radix hedysari polysaccharide on U251 cell line was determined by the MTT assay. The cell cycle of U251 was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of cytokines in U251 cells and tumor tissues was detected using PCR. The phagocytosis of macrophages in the serum of glioma nude mice was detected by Giemsa staining. TNF-α signaling pathway proteins in the serum of glioma nude mice were detected by ELISA. Results. Radix hedysari polysaccharide inhibited the growth of U251 cells, induced apoptosis in G1 phase by cell cycle arrest, and facilitated apoptosis in glioma mice by regulating cell cycle. Mice injected with radix hedysari polysaccharide showed delayed tumor growth and grew slowly. Radix hedysari polysaccharide enhanced the phagocytosis of macrophages in glioma nude mice. Radix hedysari polysaccharides could inhibit tumor development by regulating the immune function of tumor mice and affecting the TNF-α signaling pathway. Conclusion. Radix hedysari polysaccharide can effectively inhibit the growth of glioma and affect the TNF-α signaling pathway, thus playing an antiglioma role.

Modified Sijunzi decoction can alleviate cisplatin-induced toxicity and prolong the survival time of cachectic mice by recovering muscle atrophy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sijunzi decoction is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly used for invigorating vital energy and for the enhancement of immunity. Modified Sijunzi decoctions have been extensively used to treat cachexia and improve the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was aimed to provide comprehensive evidence for the anti-cachectic effect of a modified Sijunzi decoction (Zhen-Qi; ZQ-SJZ) and characterize its anti-cachectic mechanism, especially in cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We employed a Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-induced cancer cachectic mouse model to demonstrate the anti-cachectic effect of ZQ-SJZ. Moreover, we provided an in vitro C2C12 myotube formation model to investigate the effect of ZQ-SJZ in hampering cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy.

RESULTS

The administration of ZQ-SJZ can recover tumor- and/or cisplatin-induced body weight loss, intestinal mucosal damage, as well as forelimb grip strength and myofiber size. The administration of ZQ-SJZ also significantly prolonged the survival of LLC-induced cachectic mice under cisplatin treatment. Mechanistically, ZQ-SJZ increased the levels of myogenic proteins, such as myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and myogenin, and decreased the atrophy-related protein, atrogin-1, in cisplatin-treated C2C12 myotubes in vitro. In addition, cisplatin-induced mitochondria dysfunction could be hampered by the co-administration of ZQ-SJZ, by which it recovered the cisplatin-mediated decrease in PGC-1α and PKM1 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of ZQ-SJZ can recover tumor- and/or cisplatin-induced cachectic conditions and significantly prolong the survival of LLC-induced cachectic mice under cisplatin treatment. The profound effect of ZQ-SJZ in hampering tumor- and/or cisplatin-induced cachexia may be due to its modulation of the mitochondrial function and subsequent myogenesis. Taken together, these results demonstrated the anti-cachectic mechanism of ZQ-SJZ and its potential use as a palliative strategy to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Protective effect of polysaccharides from Radix Hedysari on gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid in rats

The potential anti-gastric ulcer effects of Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS-50 and HPS-80) were explored in rats.

Dose matters: Direct killing or immunoregulatory effects of natural polysaccharides in cancer treatment

Polysaccharides from natural resources possess anti-tumor activities for decades, but the efficacy of polysaccharides as the adjuvant drugs for cancer treatment at prescribed doses remains open for debate. In this review, molecular mechanisms involved in direct killing effects of polysaccharides, including apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and mitochondria/DNA damage were described. However, the concentrations/doses used to reach the direct killing effects are too high to be applicable. Polysaccharides can also exert anti-tumor effects through immunoregulation at lower doses, and the effects of polysaccharides on natural killer cells, dendritic cells and other lymphocytes for tumor destruction, along with the receptor recognition and downstream signaling pathways, were delineated. Unfortunately, the prescribed doses of polysaccharides are too low to stimulate immunoresponse, resulting in the failure of some clinical trials. Therefore, understanding the sophisticated mechanisms of the immunoregulatory function of natural polysaccharides with refined doses for clinical use will help the standardization of traditional medicine.

A Novel Heterogalactan from Antrodia camphorata and Anti-Angiogenic Activity of Its Sulfated Derivative

A heterogalactan, named ACW0, was extracted from Antrodia camphorata and purified by anion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. It was composed of galactose (94.98%), traces of mannose (2.41%), and fucose (2.61%), with its molecular weight estimated to be 13.5 k Da. The polysaccharide ACW0 was shown to be a mannofucogalactan with a backbone chain of α-d-1,6-linked Gal, attached by a non-reducing terminal α-d-Man and α-l-Fuc on C-2 of nearly every six α-d-1,6-linked Gal residues. A sulfated polysaccharide, ACW0-Sul was achieved by the chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method. Compared with the native polysaccharide, ACW0-Sul could disrupt tube formation and migration as well as cell growth of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) dose-dependently. Further studies revealed that phosphorylation of Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases (Erk) and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) were significantly inhibited by ACW0-Sul. These results suggested that ACW0-Sul could be a potent candidate for anti-angiogenic agent development.

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.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of various new bis-isoxazoline derivatives as potential antioxidant additives

1,4-Bis[4-(4-benzoyl-5-phenylisoxazol-3-yl)-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-yloxy]benzene and its derivatives were synthesised. The antioxidant activities of these compounds were investigated in vitro assay systems, such as lipid peroxidation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethyl-1,3-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), superoxide, hydroxyl radicals scavenging and reducing power assay. The results show that the target compounds with nitro- and chloro-substituents at the 4-position of the benzene ring had more effective antioxidant power and better radical scavenging activity (RSA) (%) values when compared to those of butylated hydroxytoluene, trolox, caffeic acid and ascorbic acid, respectively..

Purification and characterization of a glucan from Bacillus Calmette Guerin and the antitumor activity of its sulfated derivative

A water-soluble glucan, BCG-PASW, with a molecular weight of 2.10×10(4)Da, was separated from polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG-PSN) using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques (COSY, HSQC and HMBC), BCG-PASW was found to be an α-d-glucan composed of α-d-(1→4)-linked glucopyranosyl residues, with branches at O-6 consisting of non-reducing terminal α-d-Glcp approximately every eight residues. In vitro antitumor activity by MTS method, its sulfated derivative with a substitution degree of 0.59, could inhibite C666-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells growth significantly. The results indicated that the sulfate content play a decisive role in the bioactivities of the polysaccharides.

A chemically sulfated polysaccharide derived from Ganoderma lucidum induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells

To develop new anticancer agents, we prepared a sulfated polysaccharide (SCGLP1) from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum, and the effect of SCGLP1 on human osteosarcoma MG63 cell line was investigated. Our result showed that treatment with SCGLP1 resulted in a significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and cell viability of MG63 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner and caused apoptotic death in MG63 cells through an increase in G0/G1 phase arrest, but had minor cytotoxic effect on human normal osteoblast (NHOst) cells. Western blot analysis identified that SCGLP1-induced apoptosis was associated with an increased protein expression of proapoptotic Bax and Bad, decreased expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c to cytosol, and cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) blocked the SCGLP1-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. The data indicate that SCGLP1-induced apoptosis is primarily associated with caspase-3- and caspase-9-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Radix Hedysari polysaccharide suppresses lipid metabolism dysfunction in a rat model of non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease via adenosine monophosphate‑activated protein kinase pathway activation

Oxidative stress and excess hepatic lipid accumulation contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Radix Hedysari polysaccharides (RHP) have attracted interest due to their antioxidant properties and immunomodulatory effects. However, the effect of RHP on hepatic lipid metabolism remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the response of Sprague-Dawley rat livers to a high-fat diet and RHP treatment was investigated by evaluating body weight, liver histology, hepatic lipid content, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and lipid metabolism gene transcriptional profiles. The present study demonstrated that RHP ameliorated lipid metabolism disorders, regulated hepatic lipid content, improved liver inflammation and damage, activated AMPK via phosphorylation, upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and downregulated the mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c in rat livers, which reduced lipogenesis and increased lipolysis. Taken together, these results suggested that RHP effectively ameliorates lipid metabolism disorders in rat livers; thus, RHP may be a potential therapeutic agent in the prevention of hepatic steatosis.

Preparation, antiangiogenic and antitumoral activities of the chemically sulfated glucan from Phellinus ribis

Two sulfated derivatives (PRP-S1 and PRP-S2) of a β-glucan from Phellinus ribis with different degrees of substitution were obtained by chlorosulfonic acid method. The derivatives could block formation of new vessels in zebrafish and inhibit the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The two sulfated derivatives had remarkably high antitumor activities in vivo (in BALB/c mice inoculated with H22 hepatocellular carcinoma) as well as in vitro (against human ovary cancer SKOV-3 cells), without producing any overt signs of general toxicity. The results of immunohistochemistry assay indicated that the derivatives significantly reduced the average number of microvessel density (MVD) and inhibited the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor. Thus, these derivatives exhibit pronounced antiangiogenic and antitumoral properties. Except for cytotoxic effects on tumor cells, it is reasonable to expect that the antitumoral effects of PRP-S1 and PRP-S2 are mediated via their antiangiogenic properties.