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Immunostimulating Polysaccharides from Panax notoginseng

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Abstract

Purpose. The main purpose of this study is to prepare and characterize polysaccharides from Panax notoginseng, investigate their effects on immune system in vitro in order to find new immunostimulants for the prevention and supporting treatment of infection and immunodeficiency related diseases.

Methods. Polysaccharides were extracted with aqueous solution, separated with column chromatography. Their anticomplementary activities were investigated by using human serum and antibody-sensitized sheep red blood cells. Interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor inductive activities were studied by using isolated mouse spleen lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages, respectively.

Results. Four polysaccharides, homogeneous in gel-filtration chromatography, were prepared and designated PF3111, PF3112, PBGA11, and PBGA12. Component sugar analysis revealed that they are heteroglycans with MWs ranging from 37 kD to 760 kD, composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose, and xylose in different molar ratios. Fraction PBGA12 has the most anticomplementary activity which is mediated through both alternative and classical pathways. All the polysaccharides except PBGA11 induced the production of interferon-γ in the presence of concanavalin A. They induced the production of significant amount of TNF-α in cell cultures.

Conclusions. The polysaccharides from P. notoginseng have immunostimulating activities in vitro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, LA, California, 90033

    Hua Gao, Fengzhen Wang & Eric J. Lien

  2. Doheny Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, LA, California, 90033

    Melvin D. Trousdale

Authors
  1. Hua Gao
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  2. Fengzhen Wang
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  3. Eric J. Lien
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  4. Melvin D. Trousdale
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Gao, H., Wang, F., Lien, E.J. et al. Immunostimulating Polysaccharides from Panax notoginseng . Pharm Res 13, 1196–1200 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016060119425

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016060119425

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