title: Isolation, partial characterisation and immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharide from Morchella esculenta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polysaccharides extracted from fungi or algae have shown a variety of medical activities, and the exploitation of polysaccharides for application in pharmacy has been very promising. In this study, the immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta were investigated to identify immunostimulatory activity and potentially contribute to the therapeutic potential of Morchella esculenta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A water-soluble polysaccharide, MEP, was obtained from the fermentation broth of Morchella esculenta. Two fractions of this polysaccharide (MEP-I and MEP-II) were extracted and purified. High-performance gel permeation chromatography analysis showed the average molecular weights of two polysaccharides. Structural properties and compositions of these two fractions were examined by Fourier transform infrared and a high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector. Active experiments suggested that the MEP had typical immunostimulatory activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These bioactivity tests showed that the polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta presented significant immune modulating activity, and this finding may offer the basis for the popular use of polysaccharides in functional foods or medicine.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gui-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D055808:Drug Discovery; D005285:Fermentation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012995:Solubility; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D009005:Monosaccharides; D011134:Polysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide