title: In vitro macrophage nitric oxide production by Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk. inflorescence polysaccharides.
abstract: Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk. decoctions of dried inflorescences are used in Portugal due to their claimed beneficial properties for various health disorders. To disclose the potential contribution of its polysaccharides to health benefits, in this work, hot water extracts from P. tridentatum inflorescences were prepared and fractionated by ethanol precipitation and anion exchange chromatography. The fraction rich in acetylated galactomannans evidenced an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages. This activity decreased 60-75% after saponification, confirming that acetylation is an important structural feature for this biological property. In addition, the treatment of pectic polysaccharides with endo-polygalacturonase showed that type-I and type-II arabinogalactans, as well as low molecular weight galacturonans and xyloglucans, may also contribute to macrophage NO production. Thus, the polysaccharides present in P. tridentatum dried inflorescences may contribute to the health beneficial properties frequently attributed to the decoctions of this plant.
authors.affiliation: QOPNA and Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CIMO-ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vitor M R
authors.initials: VMR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: QOPNA and Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: CNC, Universidade de Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: CNC, Universidade de Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: QOPNA and Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: M Rosário
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.affiliation: QOPNA and Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: mac@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coimbra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000737:chemistry*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Acetylated galactomannan; Mass spectrometry; Nitric oxide; P. tridentatum; Pectic polysaccharides