Isolation, partial characterisation and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharides from Vernonia kotschyana Sch. Bip. ex Walp.
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.
Nergard
Cecilie Sogn
CS
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, PO Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. c.s.nergard@farmasi.uio.no
Diallo
Drissa
D
Michaelsen
Terje Einar
TE
Malterud
Karl Egil
KE
Kiyohara
Hiroaki
H
Matsumoto
Tsukasa
T
Yamada
Haruki
H
Paulsen
Berit Smestad
BS
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
D011134:Polysaccharides