title: Purification and characterization of an antitumor polysaccharide from Portulaca oleracea L.
abstract: In the present study, we purified a unique polysaccharide component (POP) from Portulaca oleracea and found that it had pronounced anti-tumor effects in vivo model. Tumor weight, immune organ index and T lymphocyte subsets were employed to detect the immunoregulatory and antitumor effects of POP after administration. Hematological and biochemical analyses were also investigated in order to evaluate the toxicological aspects related to POP treatment. POP could significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable sarcoma 180 and potentiate the animal's immune responses including an increase in the number of white blood cell (WBC) and CD4(+) T-lymphocytes, as well as the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+). Furthermore the serum aspartate transanimase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels in S180-bearing mice were significantly reversed by POP. Considering all these results, it is suggested that the anti-tumor effect elicited by POP could be associated with its immunostimulating properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, The General Hospital of the Second Artillery Corps of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100088, PR China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yongjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xingwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Dongli
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongchen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ningxin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D031822:Portulaca / Q000737:chemistry*; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011134:Polysaccharides; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase