Beneficial effect of Bupleurum polysaccharides on autoimmune disease induced by Campylobacter jejuni in BALB/c mice.
OBJECTIVE
Radix Bupleuri, is one of the most frequently prescribed crude herbs in the prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and auto-immune diseases. This study was to determine whether the crude polysaccharides (BPs) isolated from the roots of Bupleurum smithii var. parvifolium, had beneficial effects on autoimmune disease.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were immunized with CJ-S(131) in Freund's complete adjuvant on day 0, and then boosted on day 14. BPs 15 or 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1), or prednisone 5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) was given to BALB/c mice intragastrically from day 0 to day 34.


RESULTS
Treatment with BPs 15 or 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 35 days protected kidney from glomerular injury with reduced immunoglobulin deposition and lowered proteinuria. The increased production of serum autoantibodies and total immunoglobulin G (IgG) was also inhibited. BPs 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) improved weight loss and spleen swelling when compared with vehicle-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested that Bupleurum polysaccharides had a beneficial effect on systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndroma induced by CJ-S(131) in BALB/c mice.
Wang
Zheng
Z
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Li
Hong
H
Xu
Han
H
Yue
Xi-Ling
XL
Cheng
Xiao-Qin
XQ
Hou
Wen-Jun
WJ
Zhang
Yun-Yi
YY
Chen
Dao-Feng
DF
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D029972:Bupleurum / Q000737:chemistry*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011134:Polysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D011241:Prednisone