Extraction, Characterization, Antitumor and Immunological Activities of Hemicellulose Polysaccharide from Astragalus radix Herb Residue

An updated review of the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of hederagenin and its derivatives

Hederagenin (HG) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid that can be isolated from various medicinal herbs. By modifying the structure of HG, multiple derivatives with superior biological activities and safety profiles have been designed and synthesized. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that HG and its derivatives display multiple pharmacological activities against cancers, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, fibrotic diseases, cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and depression. Previous studies have confirmed that HG and its derivatives combat cancer by exerting cytotoxicity, inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, modulating autophagy, and reversing chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells, and the action targets involved mainly include STAT3, Aurora B, KIF7, PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Nrf2/ARE, Drp1, and P-gp. In addition, HG and its derivatives antagonize inflammation through inhibiting the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators by regulating inflammation-related pathways and targets, such as NF-κB, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1, and LncRNA A33/Axin2/β-catenin. Moreover, anti-pathogen, anti-metabolic disorder, anti-fibrosis, neuroprotection, and anti-depression mechanisms of HG and its derivatives have been partially elucidated. The diverse pharmacological properties of HG and its derivatives hold significant implications for future research and development of new drugs derived from HG, which can lead to improved effectiveness and safety profiles.

The ameliorative effect on chemotherapy-induced injury and tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment of the polysaccharide from the rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC

Combined medication has attracted increasing attention as an important treatment option for tumors due to the serious adverse effects of chemotherapy. In this study, as a new therapy strategy, a combination treatment of MDP (a polysaccharide from the rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC.) with cyclophosphamide (CTX) was investigated. The results showed that combination treatment with MDP and CTX exerted a significantly synergistic anti-tumor effect in Lewis tumor-bearing mice, improved CTX-induced emaciation and hair loss, as well as increased the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and platelets in the peripheral blood. In addition, compared with CTX alone, the thymus index and spleen index of the MDP + CTX group were increased, the number of CD3 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, white blood cells and B cells in spleen also increased significantly. MDP could also ameliorate the increase in liver and kidney index caused by CTX. In the Lewis lung cancer model, MDP showed a certain degree of anti-tumor effects, which may be related to its promotion of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to M1 phenotype polarisation, enhancement of the number of T cells in tumor tissues and promotion of Th cells in tumor tissues to Th1 phenotype polarisation, thus alleviating the immunosuppressive microenvironment in tumor tissues. This study laid the foundation for the development of MDP as a polysaccharide drug for the treatment or adjuvant therapy of tumors and has important significance for the further clinical application of polysaccharides.

Purification, Structural Characterization, and Antitumor Activity of a Polysaccharide from Perilla Seeds

A previous study found that a crude Perilla seed polysaccharide (PFSP) fraction exhibited obviously antitumor activity; however, the structural characterization and antitumor properties of this polysaccharide remain unclear. In this study, the PFSP was extracted and purified via combined column chromatography, and the structure of a single polysaccharide fraction was characterized by methylation, IC, GC-MS, NMR, and AFM. The results demonstrated that the efficient antitumor polysaccharide fraction PFSP-2-1 was screened from PFSP with a relative molecular weight of 8.81 × 106 Da. The primary structure of the PFSP main chain was →1)-Araf-(5→, →1,3)-Galp-(6→, →1)-Galp-(6→, →1,3)-Araf-(5→ and →1)-Xylp-(4→, and that of the side chains was →1)-Arap, →1,3)-Galp-(6→, →1)-Araf and →1)-Glcp-(4→, →1)-Galp-(3→ and →1)-Glcp, leading to a three-dimensional helical structure. CCK-8 experiments revealed that PFSP-2-1 significantly inhibited the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro (p < 0.05), and its inhibitory effect positively correlation with the concentration of PFSP-2-1, and when the concentration of PFSP-2-1 was 1600 µg/mL, it showed the highest inhabitation rate on three hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG-2, Hep3b, and SK-Hep-1), for which the survival rates of HepG-2, Hep3b, and SK-Hep-1 were 53.34%, 70.33%, and 71.06%. This study clearly elucidated the structure and antitumor activity of PFSP-2-1, which lays a theoretical foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of antitumor activity of Perilla seed polysaccharides and provides an important theoretical basis for the development of high-value Perilla.

Rapid identification of chemical components in Xuelian granule by UHPLC-Q-orbitrap-HRMS based on enzyme activity in vitro

BACKGROUND

Xuelian granule (XL), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been used for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy for a long time as a hospital preparation. Because the active ingredients in the XL that can help to treat diabetic nephropathy are still unclear, which limits the interpretation for its pharmacological mechanism, further development and subsequent study on the material basis of its efficacy.

METHODS

In this study, a screening method based on inhibition activity against aldose reductase (AR) was employed for activity-directed chemical analysis of XL using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-orbitrap-HRMS) technique.

RESULTS

A total of 178 compounds, including 46 terpenes, 47 organic acids, 25 flavonoids, 29 phenylethanoid glycosides, and 31 other types, were tentatively identified from XL which might responsible for its AR inhibition activity.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study for a systematic, rapid, and accurate qualitative analysis of XL. This research provides a scientific and experimental basis for further researches on pharmacodynamics material basis and quality control of XL.

Biosynthesis and Pharmacological Activities of Flavonoids, Triterpene Saponins and Polysaccharides Derived from Astragalus membranaceus

Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus), a well-known traditional herbal medicine, has been widely used in ailments for more than 2000 years. The main bioactive compounds including flavonoids, triterpene saponins and polysaccharides obtained from A. membranaceus have shown a wide range of biological activities and pharmacological effects. These bioactive compounds have a significant role in protecting the liver, immunomodulation, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiviral, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cardiovascular activities. The flavonoids are initially synthesized through the phenylpropanoid pathway, followed by catalysis with corresponding enzymes, while the triterpenoid saponins, especially astragalosides, are synthesized through the universal upstream pathways of mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP), and the downstream pathway of triterpenoid skeleton formation and modification. Moreover, the Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) possesses multiple pharmacological activities. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins, and the structural features of polysaccharides in A. membranaceus. We further systematically summarized the pharmacological effects of bioactive ingredients in A. membranaceus, which laid the foundation for the development of clinical candidate agents. Finally, we proposed potential strategies of heterologous biosynthesis to improve the industrialized production and sustainable supply of natural products with pharmacological activities from A. membranaceus, thereby providing an important guide for their future development trend.

Recycling utilization of Chinese medicine herbal residues resources: systematic evaluation on industrializable treatment modes

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an indispensable part of the world health and medical system and plays an important role in treatment, prevention, and health care. These TCM produce a large amount of Chinese medicine herbal residues (CHMRs) during the application process, most of which are the residues after the decoction or extraction of botanical medicines. These CMHRs contain a large number of unused components, which can be used in medical, breeding, planting, materials, and other industries. Considering the practical application requirements, this paper mainly introduces the low-cost treatment methods of CHMRs, including the extraction of active ingredients, cultivation of edible fungi, and manufacture of feed. These methods not only have low upfront investment, but also have some income in the future. Furthermore, other methods are briefly introduced. In conclusion, this paper can provide a reference for people who need to deal with CMHRs and contribute to the sustainable development of TCM.

Polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz(PAMK) protects against DEHP-induced apoptosis in grass carp hepatocytes

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a new environmental pollutant, which is widely used in plastic additives. DEHP and its metabolites pollute surface water and threaten the survival of fish. In order to investigate the mechanism of DEHP-induced apoptosis on grass carp hepatocytes, we treated grass carp hepatocytes with DEHP, and selected Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (PAMK) to study its inhibitory effect on DEHP. The results showed that after DEHP exposure, apoptosis related proteins expression were increased significantly, leading to hepatocytes apoptosis. Moreover, AO/EB staining and Hoechst staining also showed that the number of apoptotic cells increased after DEHP exposure. It should be noted that PAMK simultaneous treatment could alleviate apoptosis induced by DEHP. The innovation of this study is that the application of Chinese herbal medicine (PAMK) to antagonize the damage of DEHP in fish was investigated for the first time. This study indicated that traditional Chinese medicine can also be used in fish production to reduce the accumulation of food-derived drugs.

From the forest to the plate - Hemicelluloses, galactoglucomannan, glucuronoxylan, and phenolic-rich extracts from unconventional sources as functional food ingredients

This study aimed to characterise pressurised hot water (PHW) extracts from nonconventional sources of functional carbohydrates and phenolic compounds in terms of antioxidant capacity, antiviral activity, toxicity, and human erythrocytes' protection antidiabetic potential. PHW extracts of Norway spruce bark (E1 + E2) and Birch sawdust (E3 + E4) contained mostly galactoglucomannan and glucuronoxylan. In contrast, samples E5 to E9 PHW extracted from Norway spruce, and Scots pine bark are rich sources of phenolic compounds. Overall, phenolic-rich extracts presented the highest inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase and protection against stable non-enveloped enteroviruses. Additionally, all extracts protected human erythrocytes from hemolysis. Cell-based experiments using human cell lines (IMR90 and A549) showed extracts' non-toxicin vitroprofile. Considering the relative toxicological safety of extracts from these unconventional sources, functional carbohydrates and polyphenol-rich extracts can be obtained and further used in food models.

Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect

The Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress on the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide and provide valuable reference information. We review the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on central and peripheral immune organs, including bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, and mucosal tissues. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on a variety of immune cells is summarized. Studies have shown that Astragalus polysaccharide can promote the activities of macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and microglia and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. The immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide makes it promising for the treatment of many diseases, including cancer, infection, type 1 diabetes, asthma, and autoimmune disease. Among them, the anticancer effect is the most prominent. In short, Astragalus polysaccharide is a valuable immunomodulatory medicine, but further high-quality studies are warranted to corroborate its clinical efficacy.

Total flavonoids of Taraxacum mongolicum inhibit non-small cell lung cancer by regulating immune function

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. has been used in lung cancer treatment in Chinese medicine. However, its specific mechanism of action has not yet been reported, and developing pharmaceutical anti-cancer resources is important. Here, we aimed to elucidate the anti-tumor effects of dandelion in vitro and in vivo and assess its effects on immune function in lung cancer patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present study, we mainly observed the therapeutic effects of total flavonoids from Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (TFTM) on non-small cell lung cancer and its influence on the body's immune function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro experiments on A549 and H1299 cells were performed using the CCK8 method; the proliferation and migration of cells were observed to investigate the wound healing effects of TFTM, and flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rate of TFTM on lung cancer cells. In vivo experiments were preformed to establish a non-small cell lung cancer mouse model using subcutaneously transplanted Lewis cells, and the body weight and tumor growth of the mice were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for tumor tissue to assess pathological changes. The thymus, spleen, and lungs were isolated for to calculate organ index. The CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ levels were detected in mouse spleen using flow cytometry, and IL-2, IL-3, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels were determined in serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of IL-2, IL-3, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were detected using quantitative real-time PCR in tumor tissues, and Ki67 expression was observed by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

At 24 h, TFTM (100 and 200 μg/mL) had the best inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells. The cell migration rate significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the tumor inhibition rate increased (P < 0.01) and promoted apoptosis (P < 0.01). The mouse thymus index significantly increased (P < 0.05) and mouse spleen index reduced (P < 0.05). The CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ levels in Lewis lung cancer mouse model increased, as did the levels of IL-2, IL-3, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in the serum and tumor of mice; Ki67 expression in tumor tissues significantly reduced (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

TFTM has an inhibitory effect on lung cancer. The mechanism may be that it improves the host's protective immune response by having a milder tumor growth inhibitory effect than cyclophosphamide.

Polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz regulates LPS-mediated mouse hepatitis through the TLR4-MyD88-NFκB signaling pathway

Feed corruption and poor breeding environment could cause widespread bacterial infection which could cause severe liver inflammation and lead to liver damage, even death. It has been proved that Polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (PAMK) could improve the immunity of animal, but the mechanism of its protective effect on hepatitis has been rarely reported. This study investigated the protective effect of PAMK on mouse liver through LPS-induced liver inflammatory. The results showed that LPS caused swelling of hepatocytes, disappearance of hepatic cord structure and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells, and LPS could up-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, IKBα and NFκB, increased cytokines IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α levels, enhance the levels of antioxidant enzymes CAT, GSH-PX, SOD, iNOs and MDA. PAMK pretreatment could relieved histopathological damage caused by LPS, and could activate the TLR4-MyD88-NFκB signalling pathway, reduce the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, increase IL-4 levels, inhibit the levels of GSH-PX and MDA. These results indicate that PAMK could reduce inflammatory damage and oxidative stress in mice and play a protective role in the early stages of LPS invasion of the liver.

Optimization of Extraction and Purification of Polysaccharides from Veronicastrum axillare, and Evaluation of Their Biological Activities

Veronicastrum axillare polysaccharides (VAP) were isolated by cellulase-assisted digestion. The optimum conditions (2 % cellulase, 47 °C for 2.5 h, then, 95 °C for 2.5 h, pH 4.1, solid/liquid ratio 1 : 7.6) were identified by a combination of single factor optimization and response surface DOE (design of experiment) methods, and achieved a yield of 4.7 %. Treatment with 1 % TCA for 10 min, then, 2 % DEAE-cellulose removed protein and colored impurities. Purified VAP retained most of the radical-scavenging activities and GES-1 cell protection capability in vitro, indicating VAP were the key active components of V. axillare. Some molecular features were identified by FT-IR and NMR analyses. The molecular weight was estimated from DOSY NMR experiments to be around 21 kDa. There were 6.3 % uronic acid residues in the VAP. The constituent sugars after TFA hydrolysis were identified by HPLC to include glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, and xylose in a molar ratio of 405 : 259 : 82 : 42 : 1.

Effects of Inonotus obliquus Polysaccharides on Proliferation, Invasion, Migration, and Apoptosis of Osteosarcoma Cells

Objectives

To observe the effect of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) on the proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods

IOP was extracted from Inonotus obliquus, human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and U2OS cells were cultured in vitro, and the effects of IOP on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of MG-63 cells and U2OS cells were determined by CCK-8 assays, cell scratch assays, transwell assays, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression of related proteins in the Akt/mTOR and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Results

Compared with the control group, MG-63 cells and U2OS cells treated with IOP of 80 μg/ml, 160 μg/ml, and 320 μ g/ml in the experimental group had significantly lower proliferation activity, decreased migration and invasion ability, and increased apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). Furthermore, IOP could significantly inhibit the activation of the Akt/mTOR and NF-κB signaling pathway (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

IOP can regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting the activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. It has antitumor activity on osteosarcoma and has the potential of clinical application in osteosarcoma treatment.

Positive Role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Cancer Immune Regulation

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) plays a critical role in treating cancer patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the main component of CAM. TCM, especially Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM), has been increasingly used in China, some other Asian countries and European countries. It has been proven to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted-therapy, and immunotherapy. It lessens the damage caused by these therapies. CHM functions on cancer by inhibiting tumor progression and improving an organism’s immune system. Increasing evidence has shown that many CHM exert favorable effects on the immune regulation. We will summarize the role of CHM on patient’s immune system when treating cancer patients. Our evidence reveals that single herbs, including their extracts, compound formulations, and preparations, will provide current advances on CHM study, especially from the perspective of immune regulation and novel insights for CHM application in clinic. The main herbs used to treat cancer patients are health-strengthening (Fu-Zheng) herbs and pathogen eliminating (Qu-Xie) herbs. The key mechanism is regulating the immune system of cancer patients. Firstly, health-strengthening herbs are mainly functioned as immune regulatory effectors on cancer. Secondly, some of the compound formulations mainly strengthen the health of patients by regulating the immune system of cancer patients. Lastly, some Chinese medicine preparations are widely used to treat cancer for their properties of spiriting vital energy and anti-cancer effects, mainly by improving immunity. CHM plays a positive role in regulating patients’ immune system, which helps cancer patients to fight against cancer itself and finally improves patients’ life quality.

Bioactive structural basis of proteoglycans from Sarcandra glabra based on spectrum-effect relationship

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Proteoglycans are one of the active ingredients of great importance in Sarcandra glabra. The biological activities of proteoglycans extracted from Sarcandra glabra including suppressing tumor growth and antioxidant activity were studied. However, raw materials from different regions may cause differences in the activity of natural extracts, especially for bioactive biomacromolecules. Conventional identification of S.glabra cannot accurately reflect the distinguishing relationship between internal components and the pharmacological activity. The identification of biologically active structures was obtained by constructing multiple fingerprint and spectrum-effect relationship.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the bioactive structural basis of proteoglycans from S.glabra based on spectrum-effect relationship and chemometric methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multiple fingerprinting including HPSEC, PMP-HPLC, and FT-IR of proteoglycans was established from 18 batches of samples based on the structural characteristics. Both antitumor activity and antioxidant activity were determined. Mathematical analysis was used to analyze the spectrum-effect relationship.

RESULTS

PCA results showed monosaccharides including Xly, Rha, and GlcA, carboxyl group in acidic sugars, peptide bond in proteins, and methylene groups could be used as markers for distinguishing the samples from different sources. The results of the spectrum-effect relationship analysis indicated that the bioactive markers of inhibitory activity on MG63 and U2OS cells by PLS-DA were related to GlcA, Xyl, Fuc, β-glycosidic bonds, peptide linkage, and methylene groups. Markers composing monosaccharide for antioxidant activity were Xyl, GlcA, and GlcN. Meanwhile, the group markers were pyranose ring, carboxyl group, peptide linkage, and methylene structure.

CONCLUSIONS

The material basis that affects the pharmacological efficacy could be found according to the spectrum-effect relationship analysis. This study could lay a foundation for further exploring the relationship between structural characteristics and pharmacodynamics of macromolecular glycoconjugates in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Characterization and Antioxidant Activity Determination of Neutral and Acidic Polysaccharides from Panax Ginseng C. A. Meyer

Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) is the most widely consumed herbal plant in Asia and is well-known for its various pharmacological properties. Many studies have been devoted to this natural product. However, polysaccharide’s components of ginseng and their biological effects have not been widely studied. In this study, white ginseng neutral polysaccharide (WGNP) and white ginseng acidic polysaccharide (WGAP) fractions were purified from P. ginseng roots. The chemical properties of WGNP and WGAP were investigated using various chromatography and spectroscopy techniques, including high-performance gel permeation chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography with an ultra-violet detector. The antioxidant, anti-radical, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans as the model organism. Our in vitro data by ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), reducing power, ferrous ion chelating, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity suggested that the WGAP with significantly higher uronic acid content and higher molecular weight exhibits a much stronger antioxidant effect as compared to that of WGNP. Similar antioxidant activity of WGAP was also confirmed in vivo by evaluating internal reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration and lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, WGAP may be used as a natural antioxidant with potent scavenging and metal chelation properties.