Four polysaccharides isolated from Poria cocos mycelium and fermentation broth supernatant possess different activities on regulating immune response

A novel strategy with in vivo characterization, extraction, isolation and activity evaluation for discovery of absorbed anti-inflammatory oligosaccharides from Zhu-Ling decoction

Zhu-Ling decoction (ZLD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases. However, the structure and activity of absorbed oligosaccharides (OSs) in ZLD are not clear. In this study, a novel strategy with in vivo characterization, extraction, isolation, activity evaluation was established and applied to identify absorbed anti-inflammatory OSs in ZLD. The results revealed that 30 OSs (22 reducing and 8 non-reducing OSs) and 11 OSs (7 reducing and 4 non-reducing OS) were characterized from ZLD in vitro and in vivo by using UPLC/Q-TOF-MS with PMP derivatization, respectively. Among them, a series of -1 → 3-β-D-Glcp-OSs were isolated and identified by HPLC-HILIC-UVD-ELSD, SPHPLC-HILIC-RID, monosaccharide composition, MS and 1D/2D-NMR spectroscopy, including laminaritriose, laminaritetraose, laminaripentaose, laminarihexaose, laminariheptaose, laminarioctaose and laminarinonaose. Moreover, the 4 non-reducing absorbed OSs were identified by comparison with reference standards, including sucrose, trehalose, raffinose and stachyose. Among them, laminaritriose, laminaritetraose and laminaripentaose significantly inhibited TNF-α and IL-6 levels in LPS-induced HK-2 cell and exerted significant anti-inflammatory effects via the NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Together, our work provides a novel strategy for discovery of absorbed anti-inflammatory OSs and broadens new horizons for the discovery of in vivo pharmacodynamic substances in TCM formulas.

Structural properties of glucan from Russula griseocarnosa and its immunomodulatory activities mediated via T cell differentiation

The polysaccharide, RGP2, was isolated from Russula griseocarnosa and its immunostimulatory effects were confirmed in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Following purification via chromatography, structural analysis revealed that RGP2 had a molecular weight of 11.82 kDa and consisted of glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), mannose, glucuronic acid and glucosamine. Bond structure analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance characterization confirmed that the main chain of RGP2 was formed by →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ and →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→, which was substituted at O-3 of →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ by β-D-Glcp-(1→. RGP2 was found to ameliorate pathological damage in the spleen and enhance immune cell activity in immunosuppressed mice. Based on combined multiomics analysis, RGP2 altered the abundance of immune-related microbiota (such as Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and Bacteroides) in the gut and metabolites (uridine, leucine, and tryptophan) in the serum. Compared with immunosuppressed mice, RGP2 also restored the function of antigen-presenting cells, promoted the polarization of macrophages into the M1 phenotype, positively affected the differentiation of helper T cells, and inhibited regulatory T cell differentiation through the protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, ultimately exerting an immune boosting function. Overall, our findings highlight therapeutic strategies to alleviate CTX-induced immunosuppression in a clinical setting.

Identification of an arabinogalactan with special structure from Moringa Oleifera Lam. leaf and exploration of its immunomodulatory activity

Arabinogalactan exhibits many biological activities, which is the candidate for functional food ingredients. However, there is limited research on the arabinogalactan from Moringa Oleifera leaf, and its structure needs to be more accurately characterized. This study investigated structural characteristics and immunomodulatory activity of a high-purity polysaccharide from Moringa oleifera leaf (i.e. MOLP-PE) to further explore arabinogalactan from Moringa Oleifera Lam. leaf and its potential application area. The results showed that MOLP-PE was a unique type II arabinogalactan: the main chain consisted of → 3, 4)-α-D-Galp-(1→, →3)-β-D-Galp-(1→ and →2, 4)-β-D-Rhap-(1→, with branches at the C-4 position of →3, 4)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and →2, 4)-β-D-Rhap-(1→, consisting of →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →3)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ and →4)-β-D-GalpA-(1→. Compared with arabinogalactan from larch, galactan and arabinan, MOLP-PE exhibited stronger ability in stimulating proliferation, phagocytosis and cytokines release of macrophages and bound with Toll-like receptor 4 closer via more binding sites, which might be due to its higher contents of 1,3-linked-Galp and 1,5-linked-Araf. These findings elucidated that MOLP-PE, as type II arabinogalactan with a unique structure, could be exploited as an immunomodulatory food ingredient.

Structural characterization and innate immunomodulatory effect of glucomannan from Bletilla striata

The crude polysaccharide of Bletilla striata in this study was extracted by water extraction and alcohol precipitation and further purified by gel column to yield the purified component Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP). Its structure and innate immune regulation activity were studied. BSP mainly comprises mannose and glucose, with a monosaccharide molar ratio of 2.9:1 and a weight-average molecular weight of 28,365 Da. It is a new low-molecular-weight water-soluble neutral glucomannan. BSP contains a → 6)-β-Manp-(1→, →4)-β-Glcp-(1→, →4)-β-Manp-(1 → and →3)-α-Manp-(1 → linear main chain, containing β-Glcp-(1 → and β-Manp-(1 → two branched chain fragments were connected to the Man residue at position 4. BSP can enhance the anti-infection ability of Caenorhabditis elegans against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, significantly improve the phagocytic ability of RAW264.7 macrophages, stimulate the secretion of NO and TNF-α, and have good innate immune regulation activity. These findings guide the use of Bletilla striata polysaccharides with immunomodulatory action.

Screening of Poria cocos polysaccharide with immunomodulatory activity and its activation effects on TLR4/MD2/NF-κB pathway

PCP-W1, the Poria cocos polysaccharide with the strong immunomodulatory activity, was isolated through column chromatography and screened for in vitro immune activity in RAW 264.7 cells in this study. The structure analysis results revealed that the PCP-W1 were composed of galactose, glucose, fucose and mannose in a molar percentage of 35.87: 28.56: 21.77: 13.64. And it exhibited a random coil and branched conformational features with a molecular weight of 18.38 kDa. The main chain consisted of residues→3)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 3,6)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 3)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 6)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → 6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → 2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → 6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → , while branching occurred at β-D-Glcp-(1→, α-D-Manp-(1→, and α-L-Fucp-(1 → 3)- α-L-Fucp-(1→. The pharmacodynamic studies demonstrated that PCP-W1 activated the release of NO, IL-6, IL-β, TNF-α, CD86, and ROS to induce polarization of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages towards M1-type through modulation of the TLR4/MD2/NF-κB pathway. The molecular docking results showed that PCP-W1 could primarily dock onto the hydrophobic binding site of TLR4/MD2 complex via its galactose chain. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation displayed stable modeling for TLR4-MD2-PCP-W1 complex. Overall, we screened the most immunoactive components of the polysaccharide, analyzed its structure, demonstrated its impact on TLR4/MD2/NF-kB pathway, and studied the interaction between TLR4/MD2 and the polysaccharide fragments. These results provide further support for the structure-activity relationship study of the immunomodulatory effects of Poria cocos polysaccharide.

Structure characterization and intestinal immune promotion effect of polysaccharide purified from Alhagi camelorum Fisch

This study investigated the structure of acid Alhagi camelorum Fischa polysaccharide (aAP) and its impact on intestinal activity in mice. The results showed that aAP comprised of the fucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid with the molar ratio of 0.81:14.97:10.84:11.14:3.26:0.80:0.80:54.92:2.47 with the molecular weight (Mw) of 22.734 kDa. Additionally, the composition of aAP was assessed via FT-IR, methylation, and NMR analyses, indicating that the backbone of the aAP was consisted of →4)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1 → 4)-α-GalpA-(1 → and →4)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, as well as →4)-β-D-Galp- and →5)-α-L-Araf- for the branched chain. Furthermore, ICR mice underwent intragastric administration of different concentrations of aAP for 7 consecutive days. The results showed that aAP enhanced the murine spleen and thymus indices, promoted the secretion of serum lgG antibody, intestinal lgA antibody and intestinal cytokines, improved the morphology of intestinal villi and crypts, enhanced quantity of intestinal IELs and IgA+ cells, and activated T lymphocytes and DC cells in MLNs. In summary, these findings suggest that the utilization of aAP could enhance the immune response of the murine intestinal mucosa.

The structures of two polysaccharides from Lepidium meyenii and their immunomodulatory effects via activating NF-κB signaling pathway

Lepidium meyenii Walp., also known as the "Peruvian national treasure", is a popular functional food in the daily lives of Peruvian people due to its bioactive with main polysaccharides. However, studies on polysaccharides isolated from Lepidium meyenii were few. Two new highly heterogeneous polysaccharides, MCP-1a and MCP-2b, were isolated and purified from the tuber of Lepidium meyenii. The structure characterization revealed that MCP-1a primarily consisted of D-Glc and had a molecular weight of 6.6 kDa. Its backbone was composed of 1,4,6-α-D-Glc, while branches feature T-α-L-Ara, 1,5-α-L-Ara, and T-α-D-Glc attached to the O-6 positions. MCP-2b was a rare arabinogalactan with a molecular weight of 49.4 kDa. Interestingly, the backbone of MCP-2b was composed of 1,6-β-D-Gal, 1,3,6-β-D-Gal with a few 1,3-β-D-GlcpA-4-OMe units inserted. Side chains of MCP-2b were mainly composed of 1,3-β-D-Gal, T-β-D-Gal, T-α-L-Ara, 1,5-α-L-Ara, with trace amounts of 1,4-β-D-Glc and T-β-D-Glc. The bioactivity assay results revealed that MCP-1a and MCP-2b increased the release of NO, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 from RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations ranging from 50 μg/mL to 400 μg/mL. Furthermore, MCP-1a and MCP-2b could promote the expression of key transcription factors (IκB-α, p-IκB-α, p65, and p-p65) in the NF-κB pathway, indicating that MCP-1a and MCP-2b had potential immunomodulatory activities.

Study on fermentation preparation, physicochemical properties and biological activity of carboxymethylpachymaran with different degrees of substitution

BACKGROUND

Carboxymethylpachymaran (CMP) is created by carboxymethylating pachyman (PM), which increases its water solubility and enhances a number of biological activities. Traditional polysaccharides modified by carboxymethylation employ strong chemical techniques. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) has been used previously for liquid fermentation to carboxymethyl modify bacterial polysaccharides. This theory can be applied to fungal polysaccharides because Poria cocos has the ability to naturally utilize cellulose.

RESULTS

CMC with different degrees of substitution (DS) (0.7, 0.9 and 1.2) were added to P. cocos fermentation medium, and CMPs with different DS (0.38, 0.56 and 0.78, respectively) were prepared by liquid fermentation. The physical and chemical properties and biological activities of the CMPs were determined. Their structures were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and monosaccharide composition. With the increase of DS, the viscosity and viscosity-average molecular weight of CMPs decreased, whereas polysaccharide content and water solubility increased, although the triple helix structure was not affected. The results of bioactivity assay showed that the higher the DS of CMPs, the higher the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability, and the stronger the bacterial inhibition ability.

CONCLUSION

The present study has developed a method for producing CMPs by P. cocos liquid fermentation. The results of the study confirm that enhancing the DS of CMP could effectively enhance its potential biological activity. The findings provide safe and reliable raw materials for creating CMP-related foods and encourage CMP application in the functional food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Isolation, structural properties and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Crataegus pinnatifida

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIC RELEVANCE

Crataegus pinnatifida, commonly known as hawthorn, is a plant species with a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine. Hawthorn polysaccharides (HP) have gained worldwide attention due to their decent biological activities and potential health benefits. Their excellent antioxidant activity, antitumor activity, immunomodulatory activity, hypoglycemic effect and hypolipidemic effects, intestinal microbiota modulatory activity makes them valuable in the field of ethnopharmacological research.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the current review is to provide a systematic and comprehensive summary of the latest literatures and put forward the future perspectives on hawthorn polysaccharides in the context of its extraction, purification, structural characteristics and bioactivities. Furthermore, the underlying structure-bioactivity relationship of hawthorn polysaccharides was also explored and discussed. The current review would provide the important research underpinnings and the update the information for future development and application of hawthorn polysaccharides in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We use Google Scholar, CNKI, PubMed, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Web of Science and other online databases to search and obtain the literature on extraction, isolation, structural analysis and the biological activity of hawthorn polysaccharides published before October 2023. The key words are "extraction", "isolation and purification", "bioactivities", and "Crataegus pinnatifida polysaccharides ".

RESULTS

Crataegus pinnatifida has been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, digestive disorders, inflammatory and oxidative stress in traditional Chinese medicine. Polysaccharides are the key active components of Crataegus pinnatifida which have gained widespread attention. The structure and bioactivity of polysaccharides from Crataegus pinnatifida varies in terms of raw materials, extraction methods and purification techniques. Crataegus pinnatifida polysaccharides possess diverse bioactivities, including antitumor, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic activity, cardioprotective and antioxidant activities, among others. These biological properties can not only lay firm foundation for the treatment of diverse diseases, but also provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth study of the structure-activity relationship. In addition, the underlying structure-activity relationship is also explored and discussed, and further research and development of hawthorn polysaccharides are also prospected.

CONCLUSION

As a natural compound, hawthorn polysaccharides has garnered significant attention and held immense research potential. Hawthorn polysaccharides can be obtained through different extraction methods, including hot water extraction method, ultrasonic extraction method and enzymatic extraction method etc. The structures of hawthorn polysaccharides have also been characterized and reported in numerous studies. Moreover, hawthorn polysaccharides exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, such as the antioxidant activity, the antitumor activity, the immunomodulatory activity, the hypoglycemic effect and the hypolipidemic effect, as well as the intestinal microbiota modulatory activity. These diverse bioactivities contribute to the growing interest in hawthorn polysaccharides and its potential applications. Hawthorn polysaccharides has promising application prospects in various industries, including functional food, pharmaceuticals and biomedical research. Therefore, it is imperative to fully explore and harness the potential of hawthorn polysaccharides in the food and medicine fields.

Effects of almond (Armeniaca Sibirica L. Lam) polysaccharides on gut microbiota and anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the prebiotic properties of the almond polysaccharide AP-1 on intestinal microorganisms by using an in vitro fecal fermentation method and its anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that during the in vitro fermentation of AP-1, the pH value of the fermentation broth decreased obviously, while the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased significantly, especially acetic acid and butyric acid. In genus level, the number of Clostridium and Megamonas increased markedly in the AP-1 group after 24 h of fermentation. After 48 h of fermentation, there was a noticeable increase in the number of beneficial genera Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae, and a considerable decrease in the number of pro-inflammatory genera. In addition, we found that AP-1 had no toxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. In the LPS-induced inflammation model of RAW264.7 cells, AP-1 could effectively inhibit the release of NO, regulate the level of reactive oxides (ROS), and effectively down-regulate the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and iNOS. In conclusion, the almond polysaccharide AP-1 may be a functional active substance aimed at promoting intestinal health and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.

Chemical structures, extraction and analysis technologies, and bioactivities of edible fungal polysaccharides from Poria cocos: An updated review

Poria cocos is a popular medicinal food. Polysaccharides are the key component of Poria cocos, forming 70-90 % of the dry sclerotia mass. Recent studies indicate that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP-Cs) have multiple beneficial functions and applications. A literature search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed databases. For this review, we provided an updated research progress in chemical structures, various extraction and analysis technologies, bioactivities of PCP-Cs, and insights into the directions for future research. The main polysaccharides identified in Poria cocos are water-soluble polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides. Hot water, alkali, supercritical fluid, ultrasonic, enzyme, and deep eutectic solvent-based methods are the most common methods for PCP-Cs extraction. Technologies such as near-infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, are commonly used to evaluate the qualities of PCP-Cs. In addition, PCP-Cs have antioxidant, immunomodulatory, neuroregulatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and gut microbiota regulatory properties. Future research is needed to focus on scaling up extraction, enhancing quality control, elucidating mechanisms of bioactivities, and the utilisation of PCP-Cs in food industries. Overall, Poria cocos is a good source of edible fungi polysaccharides, which can be developed into functional foods with potential health benefits.

Interpreting the efficacy enhancement mechanism of Chinese medicine processing from a biopharmaceutic perspective

Chinese medicine processing (CMP) is a unique pharmaceutical technology that distinguishes it from natural medicines. Current research primarily focuses on changes in chemical components to understand the mechanisms behind efficacy enhancement in processing. However, this paper presents a novel perspective on the biopharmaceutics of CMP. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current research, emphasizing two crucial aspects: the role of 'heat' during processing and the utilization of processing adjuvants. The paper highlights the generation of easily absorbed components through the hydrolysis of glycosides by 'heat', as well as the facilitation of dissolution, absorption, and targeted distribution of active components through the utilization of processing adjuvants. From a biopharmaceutic perspective, this paper provides a lucid comprehension of the scientific foundation for augmenting the efficacy of CMP. Moreover, it proposes a three-dimensional research framework encompassing chemical reactions, phase transitions, and biopharmaceutical properties to further investigate the mechanisms involved in enhancing the efficacy of CMP.

The Liquid Fermentation Process for Mycelia of Poria cocos (Agaricomycetes) by Single-Factor Experimentation and Response Surface Methodology

Liquid fermentation could yield substantial mycelia mass and valuable secondary metabolites in large-scale production within a short, fermented duration. The liquid fermented process of mycelia of Poria cocos was optimized using a combination of single-factor experimentation and response surface methodology (RSM) to obtain more extract of P. cocos. The optimal conditions were determined as follows: The carbon source concentration at 1%, the nitrogen source concentration at 1%, the inoculum volume at 7% and a culture time of 9 d. Under these conditions, the ethyl acetate extract mass of P. cocos mycelia reached 0.0577 ± 0.0041 mg. There were significant interactions between nitrogen source concentration and cultivation time. The predicted values by the mathematical model based on the response surface analysis showed a close agreement with experimental data.

A Systematic Review on the Research Progress on Polysaccharides from Fungal Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a class of natural drugs with multiple components and significant therapeutic effects through multiple targets. It also originates from a wide range of sources containing plants, animals and minerals, and among them, plant-based Chinese medicine also includes fungi. Fungal traditional Chinese medicine is a medicinal resource with a long history and widespread application in China. Accumulating evidence confirms that polysaccharide is the main pharmacodynamic material on which fungal TCM is based. The purpose of the current systematic review is to summarize the extraction, isolation, structural identification, biological functions, quality control and medicinal and edible applications of polysaccharides from fungal TCM in the past three years. This paper will supplement and deepen the understanding and application of polysaccharides from fungal TCM, and propose some valuable insights for further research and development of drugs and functional foods.

The structure, characterization and immunomodulatory potential of exopolysaccharide produced by Planococcus rifietoensis AP-5 from deep-sea sediments of the Northwest Pacific

Polysaccharides derived from microorganisms exhibit diverse structures and bioactivities, making them promising candidates for the treatment of various diseases. However, marine-derived polysaccharides and their activities are relatively little known. In this work, fifteen marine strains were isolated from surface sediments in the Northwest Pacific Ocean for screening of EPS production. Planococcus rifietoensis AP-5 produced a maximum yield of EPS at 4.80 g/L. The purified EPS (referred to as PPS) had a molecular weight of 51,062 Da and contained amino, hydroxyl, and carbonyl groups as its major functional groups. PPS primarily consisted of →3)-α-D-Galp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Manp-(1 → 2)-α-D-Manp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Manp-(1 → 4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, with a branch consisting of T-β-D-Glcp-(1→. Additionally, surface morphology of PPS was hollow, porous, and sphere-like stack. PPS primarily contained C, N, and O elements, with a surface area of 33.76 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.13 cc/g, and a pore diameter of 1.69 nm, respectively. Based on the TG curve, the degradation temperature of PPS was measured to be 247 °C. Furthermore, PPS demonstrated immunomodulatory activity through dose-dependently upregulating the expression level of cytokines. It significantly enhanced the cytokine secretion at a concentration of 5 μg/mL. To sum up, this study offers valuable insights for screening marine polysaccharide-based immunomodulators.