Purification, structure characterization and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Saposhnikovia divaricata

Multiple Fingerprints and Spectrum-Effect Relationship of Polysaccharides from Saposhnikoviae Radix

PMP-HPLC, FT-IR, and HPSEC fingerprints of 10 batches of polysaccharides from Saposhnikoviae Radix with different production areas and harvest times have been prepared, and the chemometrics analysis was performed. The anti-allergic activity of 10 batches of Saposhnikoviae Radix polysaccharide (SP) was evaluated, and the spectrum-effect relationship of the 10 batches of SP was analyzed by gray correlation degree with the chromatographic fingerprint as the independent variable. The results showed that the PMP-HPLC, HPSEC, and FT-IR fingerprints of 10 batches of SP had a high similarity. Two monosaccharides (rhamnose and galactose), the polysaccharide fragment Mn = 8.67 × 106~9.56 × 106 Da, and the FT-IR absorption peak of 892 cm−1 can be used as the quality control markers of SPs. All 10 batches of SP could significantly inhibit the release of β-HEX in RBL-231 cells, and the polysaccharides harvested from Inner Mongolia in the winter had the best anti-allergic activity. The spectrum-effect relationship model showed that the monosaccharide composition and molecular weight were related to the anti-allergic activity of the SPs. Multiple fingerprints combined with spectrum-effect relationship analysis can evaluate and control the quality of SPs from the aspects of overall quality and efficacy, which has more application value.

Polysaccharides Derived from Saposhnikovia divaricata May Suppress Breast Cancer Through Activating Macrophages

Background

Saposhnikovia divaricata (SD) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat pain, inflammation, and arthritis. Recently, it has been reported that SD extract may inhibit tumor growth, but the mechanism involved is elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides derived from SD in breast cancer and the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

Polysaccharides isolated from SD were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Their effects on cell growth of U937, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231, and tumor growth in a mouse MDA-MB 231 xenograft model were examined. Their role in U937 activation, MCF-7, and MDA-MB 231 cytokine release profiles were also tested.

Results

In vitro studies showed that SD polysaccharides (SDPs) promoted U937 cell growth dose-dependently, with no obvious effect on growth of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. SDP also showed an antagonistic effect against the growth inhibition of U937 by the culture supernatants of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and reversed the polarization status of U937. Treatment of SCID mice bearing MDA-MB-231-derived xenograft tumors with SDP significantly reduced tumor growth. At all tested concentrations, no obvious toxic side-effects were recorded.

Discussion

We tentatively concluded that SDPs potently promote the growth of U937 and activate it to inhibit the tumor growth of SCID mice bearing MDA-MB-231-derived xenograft tumors indirectly, with no obvious growth inhibition effects on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in vitro. Our finding indicated that SDP could be a potential anticancer agent for breast cancer.