Analysis of Herba Asari polysaccharides and their immunological activity

Impact of Sulfur Fumigation on the Chemistry of Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Chinese Yam)

Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Chinese yam; derived from the rhizome of Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) (DR), commonly consumed as a food or supplement, is often sulfur-fumigated during post-harvest handling, but it remains largely unknown if and how sulfur fumigation impacts the chemistry of DR. In this study, we report the impact of sulfur fumigation on the chemical profile of DR and then the molecular and cellular mechanisms potentially involved in the chemical variations induced by sulfur fumigation. The results show that sulfur fumigation significantly and specifically changed the small metabolites (molecular weight lower than 1000 Da) and polysaccharides of DR at both qualitative and quantitative levels. Multifaceted molecular and cellular mechanisms involving chemical transformations (e.g., acidic hydrolysis, sulfonation, and esterification) and histological damage were found to be responsible for the chemical variations in sulfur-fumigated DR (S-DR). The research outcomes provide a chemical basis for further comprehensive and in-depth safety and functional evaluations of sulfur-fumigated DR.

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential and pharmacokinetic study of significant alkamides ingredients from Asarum Linn

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Asari Radix et Rhizoma (ARR), including 3 major plants of genus Asarum Linn, A. heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag., A. sieboldii Miq. f. sieboldii and A. sieboldii Miq f. seoulense (Nakai) C. Y. Cheng et C. S. Yang, is one of the most important traditional herbal medicine in Asia with tremendous pharmacological activities. For a long time, researchers focus attention on studing asarinin and essential oils, the indicating ingredients of ARR, but paid less attention to another characteristic component, alkamides. The role of alkamides in the major efficacy of ARR medication remains to be elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the contribution of alkamides in the efficacy of ARR according to the evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects and in vivo pharmacokinetics processes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For pharmacodynamic study, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of alkamides-enriched fraction (ARRA) were comparatively evaluated by writhing test, hot plate test, and ear swelling test in mice after oral administration. For pharmacokinetic study, an UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of N-isobutyl-2E,4E,8Z,10Z/E-dodecatetraenamide (DDA) and other 6 major characteristic ingredients of ARR in rat plasma. The analytical method was validated and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of ARR extract and DDA.

RESULTS

Pharmacodynamic study show that the ARR and ARRA can significantly inhibit the writhing times of mice caused by acetic acid administration, increase the pain threshold of thermal stimulation, and inhibit xylene treated ear swelling degree by reduce PGE₂ and TNF-α levels in the inflamed tissue. For pharmacokinetic study, the pharmacokinetic parameters of Vd/F and CL/F after intravenous administration in rats of DDA are 63.94 ± 32.12 L/kg and 0.33 ± 0.06 L/min/kg, respectively. The plasma drug concentration declined with the T_1/2 value of 2.25 ± 0.96 h, and the MRT_0-∞ was 2.23 ± 1.02 h. The absolute bioavailability of DDA after oral administration was calculated as 10.73%. DDA, methyleugenol, and asarinin have relatively high AUC_0-∞ values when the ethanol and water extract of ARR is orally administered.

CONCLUSIONS

ARRA is a kind of active ingredients with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that played a significant role in the major efficacy of ARR. DDA, the major compound of ARRA, has a high level of exposure in vivo, which could be is suitable for the pharmacokinetic marker or new quality marker of ARR.

The genus Asarum: A review on phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, toxicology and pharmacokinetics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In essentially every quadrant of the globe, many species of genus Asarum are used as a common herbal medicine and appear in many formulas or Kampo. Crude drug from several medicinal plants of genus Asarum (MA) known as Asari Radix et Rhizoma (ARR) has been proven to have the functions of dispelling cold, relieving pain, and reducing phlegm according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory for thousands of years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This article reviews the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and metabolic kinetics related research of genus Asarum to evaluate its ethnopharmacology use and future opportunities for research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on relevant studies of the genus Asarum was gathered via the Internet using Baidu Scholar, Web of Science, Elsevier, ResearchGate, ACS, Pudmed and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Additionally, information was also obtained from some local books, PhD, MS's dissertations and Pharmacopeias.

RESULTS

The genus Asarum has played an important role in herbal treatment. At present, more than 277 compounds have been isolated or identified from genus Asarum. Among them, volatile oil and lignans are the major active constituents and important chemotaxonomic markers. Modern pharmacological studies indicated that genus Asarum and its active compounds possess a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially analgesic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protection, antitussive, immunosuppressive, anti-tumor, and microbicidal activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this review, therapeutic potential of genus Asarum has been demonstrated with the pharmacological effects on inflammation, CNS, respiratory regulation, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and microbial infection. The available literature showed that the major activities of the genus Asarum can be attributed to the active lignans and essential oils. Further in-depth studies on the aspects of the genus for mechanism of actions, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, drug interactions, and clinical trials are still limited, thereby intensive research and assessments should be performed.

Spiky titanium dioxide nanoparticles-loaded Plantaginis Semen polysaccharide as an adjuvant to enhance immune responses

The purpose of this study was to prepare spiky titanium dioxide nanoparticles-loaded Plantaginis Semen polysaccharide (SN-TiO₂-PSP), and the structural characterization and immune response of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) vaccine in Hetian chickens were investigated. The structural characterization of SN-TiO₂-PSP was analyzed by FT-IR, TEM, and TGA analysis. And the immune organs indexes, lymphocytes proliferation, specific antibody levels, and ratios of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes were studied. Structural characterization results showed that SN-TiO₂-PSP has a typical polysaccharide absorption peak and good stability. The SN-TiO₂-PSP's shape was similar to sea urchin, and its zeta potential and particle size were 27.56 mV and 976.11 nm, respectively. In vivo results showed that SN-TiO₂-PSP could enhance the proliferation of peripheral lymphocytes, specific antibody levels, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes ratios, IL-4 and INF-γ levels in Hetian chickens vaccinated with ILT vaccine on D₇, D₁₄, D₂₁, and D₂₈. In addition, SN-TiO₂-PSP not only enhanced the indexes of immune organs but also promoted the development of immune organs. Therefore, SN-TiO₂-PSP has immune adjuvant activity and may become a new potential immune adjuvant.

Plants arabinogalactans: From structures to physico-chemical and biological properties

Arabinogalactans (AGs) are plant heteropolysaccharides with complex structures occasionally attached to proteins (AGPs). AGs in cell matrix of different parts of plant are freely available or chemically bound to pectin rhamnogalactan. Type I with predominantly β-d-(1 → 4)-galactan and type II with β-d-(1 → 3) and/or (1 → 6)-galactan structural backbones construct the two main groups of AGs. In the current review, the chemical structure of AGs is firstly discussed focusing on non-traditional plant sources and not including well known industrial gums. After that, processes for their extraction and purification are considered and finally their techno-functional and biological properties are highlighted. The role of AG structure and function on health advantages such as anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-ulcer- anti-diabetic and other activites and also the immunomodulatory effects on in-vivo model systems are overviewed.

Dendrobium officinale Orchid Extract Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis in Vivo and Inhibits RANKL-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation in Vitro

Background:Dendrobium officinale, a traditional Chinese medical herb with high value that is widely used in Asia, possesses many positive effects on human health, including anti-chronic inflammation, anti-obesity, and immune modulation properties; however, whether D. officinale has inhibitory effects on postmenopausal osteoporosis remains unknown. Objective: We investigated the effects of D. officinale extract (DOE) on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo and on osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Methods:In vivo, female rats were divided into a sham-operated (sham) group and five ovariectomized (OVX) subgroups: OVX with vehicle (OVX), OVX with Xian-Ling-Gu-Bao capsule (240 mg/kg body weight/day), and OVX with low-, medium-, and high-dose DOE (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively). Animals in each group were administered their corresponding treatments for 13 weeks. Body weight, serum biochemical parameters, uterine and femoral physical parameters, bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanical properties, and bone microarchitecture were obtained. In vitro, the effects of DOE on osteoclastogenesis were examined using RAW264.7 cells. The effects of DOE on osteoclastogenesis and the expression of osteoclast-specific marker genes and proteins were determined. Results: DOE effectively ameliorated serum biochemical parameters, especially alleviated estradiol (E2) deficiency and maintained calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. DOE improved uterine and femoral physical parameters. In addition, DOE improved femoral BMD and biomechanical properties. DOE significantly ameliorated bone microarchitecture. Moreover, DOE inhibited osteoclastogenesis independent of its cytoxicity and suppressed the expression of osteoclast-specific marker genes and proteins. Conclusion: DOE can effectively prevent ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo and inhibit osteoclastogenesis in vitro.

The immune adjuvant response of polysaccharides from Atractylodis macrocephalae Koidz in chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND)

Build on our previous research, polysaccharides from the rhizome of Atractylodis macrocephalae Koidz (RAMPS), RAMPStp and RAMPS60c were prepared and the structural characterization and immune response of ND vaccine in chicken were investigated. Immune organ index, Lymphocyte proliferation, antibody titers, cell cycle distribution, and percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were determined. GPC analysis showed that the Mn of RAMPS with two peaks were 1.29×10(5) and 1.74×10(3), respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed that RAMPS was composed of glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, d-Ribose and rhamnose, with mass percentages of 66.39%, 21.24%, 5.64%, 2.65%, 2.30%, 1.15% and 0.64%, respectively. NMR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that a preliminary structure of RAMPS was proposed as 1,3-linked β-d-Galp and 1,6-linked β-d-Galpresidues. In vivo test showed that RAMPStp and RAMPS60c could promote peripheral lymphocytes proliferation and entering into S and G2/M phases, enhance serum HI antibody titer and effectively improve the percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in chickens vaccinated with ND vaccine at most time points. The actions of RAMPStp and RAMPS60c were stronger than that of Lev, and RAMPStp presented the best efficacy. These results indicated that RAMPStp and RAMPS60c characterize of the immune-enhancing activity and RAMPStp possessed the strongest activity. It would be anticipated as a component of new-type immunopotentiator.

Structural characterization and immunomodulating activity of polysaccharide from Dendrobium officinale

A neutral heteropolysaccharide (DOP-1-1) consisted by mannose and glucose (5.9:1) with an average molecular weight at about 1.78×10(5) Da was purified from Dendrobium officinale. Based on Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, it suggested that partial structure of DOP-1-1 is an O-acetylated glucomannan with β-d configuration in pyranose sugar forms. The immunomodulatory activity of DOP-1-1 was evaluated by secretion level of cytokine (interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in vitro. Our results suggested that DOP-1-1 could stimulate cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β) in cells. These findings demonstrated that the purified polysaccharide from D. officinale presented significant immune-modulating activities. Furthermore, by Western-blot we can found that the signaling pathways of DOP-1-1 induced immune activities involving ERK1/2 and NF-кB. As to antioxidant activity, DOP-1-1 hadn't showed remarkable scavenging capacity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) in contrast with other studies of polysaccharides from D. officinale.

Ultrasound effects on the degradation kinetics, structure and rheological properties of apple pectin

The effects of ultrasound on the molecular weight of apple pectin were investigated. The structure and rheological properties of the degradation products were also tentatively identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array Detector (HPLC-PAD), Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Rheometer. The results indicated that the weight-average molecular weight of apple pectin decreased obviously after ultrasound treatment. The molecular weight of degradation products had a uniform and narrow distribution. Ultrasound intensity and temperature play an important role in the degradation reaction. Degradation kinetics model of apple pectin fitted to 1/M(t) - 1/M(0) = kt from 5 to 45 °C. The degree of methylation of apple pectin reduced according to IR analysis when ultrasound was applied. Ultrasound treatment could not alter the primary structure of apple pectin according to the results determined by HPLC, IR and NMR. Meanwhile, the viscosity of apple pectin was 10(3) times as large as that of ultrasound-treated apple pectin. The ultrasound-treated apple pectin showed predominantly viscous responses (G' < G") over the same frequency range. The results suggested that ultrasound provided a viable alternative method for the modification of pectin.