title: Immunostimulatory effects of a polysaccharide-rich substance with antitumor activity isolated from black currant (Ribes nigrum L.).
abstract: The fruit juice of black currant was found to contain a polysaccharide-rich substance, which was designated cassis polysaccharide (CAPS), with macrophage-stimulating activity. Especially, its interleukin (IL)-1beta-inducing activity was remarkably high, compared with other fruit juice preparations. CAPS was found to consist of rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, and glucose in a molar ratio of 11.3:0.9:54.1:29.8:2.0:1.9. CAPS turned out to be partitioned into a soluble component (CAPS-l.m.) and a precipitable component (CAPS-h.m.) with mean MWs of 80,000 and 600,000 respectively in 45% (v/v) ethanol solution. At least in vitro, CAPS-l.m. rather than CAPS-h.m. appeared to play an important role in macrophage activation. Oral administration of black currant juice and CAPS to Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice retarded the growth of the solid tumor by 45% and 51% respectively. CAPS administration had a stimulatory effect on the release of IL-2, IL-10, interferon-gamma, and IL-4 from splenocytes in comparison with PBS treatment in tumor-bearing mice. The IL-4 level was, however, still lower than that exhibited by a group of normal mice. CAPS showed a certain cytotoxicity directly against tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Mercian Corporation, Product Development Research Laboratory, Fujisawa, Japan. takada-r@mercian.co.jp
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okubo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031965:Ribes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002241:Carbohydrates; D007378:Interleukins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D007371:Interferon-gamma