title: A Water-Soluble Polysaccharide from the Fruit Bodies of Bulgaria inquinans (Fries) and Its Anti-Malarial Activity.
abstract: A water-soluble polysaccharide (BIWS-4b) was purified from the fruit bodies of Bulgaria inquinans (Fries). It is composed of mannose (27.2%), glucose (15.5%) and galactose (57.3%). Its molecular weight was estimated to be 7.4 kDa (polydispersity index, Mw/Mn: 1.35). Structural analyses indicated that BIWS-4b mainly contains (1 → 6)-linked, (1 → 5)-linked and (1 → 5,6)-linked β-Galf units; (1 → 4)-linked and non-reducing terminal β-Glcp units; and (1 → 2)-linked, (1 → 6)-linked, (1 → 2,6)-linked and non-reducing terminal α-Manp units. When examined by the 4-day method and in a prophylactic assay in mice, BIWS-4b exhibited markedly suppressive activity against malaria while enhancing the activity of artesunate. Immunological tests indicated that BIWS-4b significantly enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and splenic lymphocyte proliferation in malaria-bearing mice and normal mice. The anti-malarial activity of BIWS-4b might be intermediated by enhancing immune competence and restoring artesunate-suppressed immune function. Thus, BIWS-4b is a potential adjuvant of anti-malaria drugs.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Zonghong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Yifa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou