Immunostimulatory and Anti-inflammatory Polysaccharides fromTripterygium wilfordii.: Comparison with Organic Extracts

Abstract

The organic extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (Celastraceae) have been used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases for many years in China, although they also possess significant toxicity. These extracts are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive in nature, suppressing lipopolyscacharide (LPS)-stimulated upregulation of NF kappa B gene expression. In the current study, an ethyl acetate (EA) extract and a crude hot water soluble polysaccharide (PS) fraction from T. wilfordii were compared. Both fractions were effective in reducing LPS-stimulated NO accumulation in cultured RAW 267.4 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner (IC 50 values of 1.7 and 32.1 µg/mL for EA and PS, respectively). The LC 50 of EA (19.8-22.3 µg/mL) was significantly greater than that of PS, which exhibited no apparent cytotoxicity toward either macrophages or EAhy 926 endothelial cells (up to 10 mg/mL). We also showed that PS was able to stimulate NO production by untreated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, depending on the experimental condition of cultured macrophages, a crude PS fraction of T. wilfordii may exhibit immunostimulatory or anti-inflammatory effects. This unique property, together with its relatively low level of toxicity, supports further investigation of its role in diseases in which inflammation and immunomodulation are critical.

Antitumor activity of polysaccharides isolated fromPatrinia heterophylla

“…Therefore, plant-derived polysaccharides might provide a unique opportunity for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents and adjuvants. Some studies show that natural polysaccharides could exert anticancer effects through induction of cell apoptosis and immuno-modulation (Ooi & Liu, 2000;Li et al, 2007;Shao et al, 2008). However, some polysaccharides were shown to have inhibitory effect on tumor growth as well as stimulative effects (Zhang et al, 2005;Jin et al, 2007).…”

Inhibitory Effects of Gynura procumbens Ethanolic Extract on Nitric Oxide Production and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Protein Expression in Macrophages

“…Gynura bicolor extract and compound 8,8'-(ethene-1,2-diyl)-dinaphtalene-1,4,5trio isolated from Gynura segetum have been shown to downregulate NO level in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (Wu et al 2013;Yuandani et al 2017). Based on the research by Byeon et al (2012) and Shao et al (2008), the plant polysaccharides isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii and Korean Red Ginseng possess the capacity to activate NO production in non-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells which are associated with enhanced iNOS transcription. A paradoxical effect of plant-based polysaccharides on macrophages is reported in these two studies as suppression of LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS mRNA expression were also recorded.…”

Physical, Chemical and Proteomic Evidence of Potato Suberin Degradation by the Plant Pathogenic Bacterium <i>Streptomyces scabiei</i>

“…The alditol acetate derivatives obtained were quantified by gas chromatography on a Varian 3800 GC equipped with a flame-ionization detector (FID) and CP-Sil 88 column according to Shao et al (30). …”