title: Isolation, partial characterisation and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharides from Vernonia kotschyana Sch. Bip. ex Walp.
abstract: The roots from Vernonia kotschyana Sch. Bip. ex Walp. (Baccharoides adoensis var. kotschyana (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) M.A. Isawumi, G.El-Ghazaly & B. Nordenstam) (Asteraceae) are used in Malian folk medicine for the treatment of gastritis, gastro duodenal ulcers, as an aid to ameliorate digestion and as a wound healing remedy. Since a common feature among these conditions is related to immune responses, immunomodulating activities of fractions isolated from both the 50 degrees C and the 100 degrees C water extracts from Vernonia kotschyana were investigated in this study. The active principles were identified as acidic polysaccharide fractions, containing pectic arabinogalactan type II structures, which showed both complement fixing ability and T-cell independent induction of B-cell proliferation in vitro. Some activity was also observed on macrophages. The present study may provide additional support for the popular use of this plant to improve intestinal health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, PO Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. c.s.nergard@farmasi.uio.no
authors.forename: Cecilie Sogn
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Nergard
authors.forename: Drissa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: Terje Einar
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Michaelsen
authors.forename: Karl Egil
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Malterud
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Berit Smestad
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Paulsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D018517:Plant Roots; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D035741:Vernonia
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides