Characterization of Aloeride, a new high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Aloe vera with potent immunostimulatory activity.
We have characterized a new immunostimulatory polysaccharide called Aloeride from commercial aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) juice. Aloeride is between 4 and 7 million Da, and its glycosyl components include glucose (37.2%), galactose (23.9%), mannose (19.5%), and arabinose (10.3%). At 0.5 microg/mL Aloeride increased NF-kappa B directed luciferase expression in THP-1 human monocytic cells to levels 50% of those achieved by maximal concentrations (10 microg/mL) of LPS. Aloeride induced the expression of the mRNAs encoding IL-1beta and TNF-alpha to levels equal to those observed in cells maximally activated by LPS. Acemannan, the major carbohydrate component from aloe, used at 200 microg/mL in the macrophage assay resulted in negligible NF-kappa B activation. Analysis of acemannan and Aloeride using size-exclusion chromatography suggests that the low activity of acemannan is due to trace amounts of Aloeride. Although Aloeride comprises only 0.015% of the aloe juice dry weight, its potency for macrophage activation accounts fully for the activity of the crude juice.
Department of Pharmacognosy, National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
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Pugh
S A
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Ross
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ElSohly
D S
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Pasco
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C426304:aloeride; D008156:Luciferases