A Mixture of Functional Complex Extracts from Lycium barbarum and Grape Seed Enhances Immunity Synergistically In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

A mixture of multiple ingredients is often more effective than the individual ingredients. The functions of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) glycoconjugate and grape seed procyanidins (GSP) are widely known. Here, we investigated the synergistic immune‐enhancing activity of LBP and GSP. Atomic force microscopy results suggested that the mixture of LBP and GSP exhibited circular structure unlike LBP alone, and the addition of polyphenols may change the spatial conformation of the sugar chain. The changes in the structure were related to the synergistic effect of the two functional agents on immune recovery. In vitro, the proliferation rate of splenocytes was higher in LBP + GSP group (64.16%), rather than the sum of LBP group (13.01%) and GSP group (43.61%) individually used. This synergistical proliferation of splenocytes may be correlated to the increasing intracellular free calcium levels. Furthermore, the mixture significantly enhanced the immunity in vivo, as evident from the recovery of peripheral white blood cell counts in LBP + GSP group (18.535 × 109/L) to normal group levels (18.115 × 109/L) and higher B cell proliferation than normal group (P < 0.05). These results highlight the immune‐enhancing activity of the combination of LBP and GSP associated with the structural changes, which may facilitate the development of functional foods with fewer resources but enhanced activities. Practical Application The synergistic effects of LBP and GSP on immunomodulatory were better than the sum of the effects of the individual agents both in vitro and in vivo. Our results may provide a research‐based support for the development of related functional products and an insight into the production of food resources with a fewer but more effective functional agents for better results.

Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation during Pregnancy Influences Insulin Sensitivity in Rabbit Does but Not in Their Offspring

“…However, it seems that polysaccharides ( Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, LBPs), of which the fruit is particularly rich, are the primary bioactive components to determine the beneficial pharmacological effects of the berry [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Previous studies have shown that Goji berries have antioxidant, anti-aging [ 12 ], antitumoral [ 16 ], anti-inflammatory [ 17 , 18 ], immunomodulatory [ 19 ], gastrointestinal-protective [ 20 ], cardioprotective [ 13 ], retinoprotective [ 14 ], and neuroprotective properties [ 21 ] as well as beneficial effects on several aspects of the reproductive sphere [ 22 , 23 ]. Last but not least, an increasing number of studies are showing the influence of Goji berries on blood glucose level homeostasis, suggesting antidiabetic [ 15 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] and hypolipidemic effects [ 26 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Impact of Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on the Energy Homeostasis of Rabbit Does: Uni- and Multivariate Approach

“…In fact, there are a lot of evidences showing that the berry has numerous potential beneficial effects for the general well-being of the individual and for the prevention and treatment of numerous pathologies [1][2][3][4]. Beside several biological active compounds such as carotenoids, vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin and ascorbic acid) and flavonoids, goji berry is primarily rich in polysaccharides [1] which are responsible for the main beneficial pharmacological effects of the fruit both in vitro [5][6][7][8] and in vivo in various laboratory animal species [9,10] and in clinical trials in humans [11,12]. The effects of the goji berries are mainly studied in laboratory animals such as mice and rats [9,10,13] and only a few trials were conducted using the rabbit [14][15][16] although it is considered a useful experimental animal model [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Polysaccharide isolated from Auricularia auricular‐judae (Bull.) prevents dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis in mice through modulating the composition of the gut microbiota

“…Monosaccharide composition of the Aap was measured by gas chromatograph (GC) according to previous report (You, Chang, Zhao, Zhuang, & Zhuang, 2019), using GC‐2014 system (Shimadzu Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan) equipped with a flame ionization detector and a Rtx‐5 silica capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm ID × 0.25 µm). Using rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, fucose, mannose, glucose, galactose as the monosaccharide standards.…”