title: Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a new heteropolysaccharide from Prunella vulgaris.
abstract: A new heteropolysaccharide, here called P1, was isolated from the fruit clusters of Prunella vulgaris using a hot water extraction method. Chemical and physical analyses indicated that P1 had a spherical conformation with an average molecular weight of 1750 kDa and consisted of arabinose (28.37%), xylose (54.67%), mannose (5.61%), glucose (5.46%), and galactose (5.89%). The main types of P1 linkages were proved to be (1→5)-linked α-L-Ara, (1→)-linked α-L-Ara, (1→3)-linked α-D-xyl, (1→3)-linked β-D-Gal, (1→3,6)-linked β-D-Gal, (1→3,6)-linked α-D-Man and (1→6)-linked α-D-Glc according to the periodate oxidation-Smith degradation and NMR analyses. P1 could significantly enhance the secretion of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 in murine RAW 264.7 cells, involving the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4 and complement receptor 3 (CR3). Further studies showed that P1 exhibited stable immune activities in the pH range of 4.0-10.0 and below 121 °C. The results suggested that P1 could be used as a potent immunomodulatory agent in functional foods and pharmacological fields.
authors.affiliation: College of Light Industry and Food Science, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, China. lfxfu@scut.edu.cn fechoh@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Rui Hai
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031347:Prunella / Q000737:chemistry*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha