Research progress on the extraction technology and activity study of Epimedium polysaccharides.

More pharmacological effects of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicines have been discovered in recent years. Epimedium has been used for thousands of years as a traditional Chinese medicine in China. Water-soluble Epimedium polysaccharides is one of the main ingredients of Epimedium, which is one of the main active ingredients of Epimedium, mainly composed of mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose, and galactose. The extraction methods of Epimedium polysaccharides including hot water extraction, cellulase extraction, ultrasonic extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound compound enzyme and ultra-high pressure extraction, they affect the yield of Epimedium polysaccharides. The characteristics of deproteinization including enzyme deproteinization, macroporous resin deproteinization and Sevag methods are introduced respectively. Some chemical modification methods of Epimedium polysaccharides are also involved such as phosphorylation, sulfation, selenization, and lipids encapsulated. Epimedium polysaccharides have a variety of pharmacological activities, including immune promotion, reproduction promotion, anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-fatigue and antivirus, also beneficial to nervous and hematopoietic systems. At present, the research of Epimedium polysaccharides has been in depth. In this paper, the research progress on extraction, purification, chemical modification methods and pharmacological activity of Epimedium polysaccharides summarized. The aim is to provide reference for further research and development of Epimedium polysaccharides.

Ophiopogon Polysaccharide Liposome Regulated the Immune Activity of Kupffer Cell through miR-4796.

The purpose of this article is to study the effects and mechanism of miR-4796 in the process of ophiopogon polysaccharide liposome (OPL) regulation of the immune activity of Kupffer cells (KCs). In this study, KCs were used as cell models, and were treated with OPL in different concentrations after being transfected with miR-4796 mimic or miR-4796 inhibitor. Firstly, the secretion of NO and iNOS, phagocytic activity, the expression of surface molecules CD14 and MHC II, apoptosis and ROS secretion were measured by Griess, flow cytometry, fluorescence staining and ELISA. Then, real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression of TLR4, IKKß, MyD88 and NF-κB in the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. The results showed that after transfection with miR-4796 mimic, the secretion of NO and iNOS, cell migration, cell phagocytosis and expression levels of CD14 and MHC II in the OPL group were significantly higher than those in the miR-4796 mimic control group (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB were significantly higher than those in miR-4796 mimic control group (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). After transfection with miR-4796 inhibitor, the secretion of NO and iNOS, cell migration, cell phagocytosis, expression of CD14 and MHCII in OPL group were significantly higher than those in the miR-4796 inhibitor control group (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). These results indicated that OPL could regulate the immune activity of KCs by regulating miR-4796 and activating the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Extraction, purification, structural character and biological properties of propolis flavonoids: A review.

Propolis is an aromatic substance which is collected by bees and mixed with bee saliva. The plant sources of propolis are mainly consisted with plant exudates from bark, buds and etc. Flavonoids are secondary metabolites widely found in natural plants, which have a variety of health care functions and are the main active ingredients of propolis. This article summarized the types, active ingredients, pharmacological effects, extraction methods and applications of propolis flavonoids, the aim was to provide the theoretical basis for further research and development of propolis flavonoids.

The effect of miR-1338 on the immunomodulatory activity of ophiopogon polysaccharide liposome.

This study is to investigate the effect of microRNA-1338 (miR-1338) on the activity of Kupffer cells (KCs) and its mechanism regulated by ophiopogon polysaccharide liposome (OPL). KCs was treated with different OPL after transfected with miR-1338 mimic and miR-1338 inhibitor. The secretion of NO and iNOS, the expression of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), the phagocytic activity, the expression of CD14 and MHC II, the apoptosis and the secretion of ROS were measured. In addition, the expressions of key signal factors TLR4, IKKß, MyD88 and NF-κB in NF-κB signaling pathway were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot (WB). The results showed that OPL could promote the secretion of iNOS, the expression of POD, the phagocytosis, the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, IKKß and NF-κB, the protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB, and inhibit the cell apoptosis and ROS secretion after transfected with miR-1338 mimic. After transfected with miR-1338 inhibitor, OPL could promote the secretion of NO and iNOS, the expression of POD, cell migration, phagocytosis, and inhibit cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, IKKß and NF-κB and the protein expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB were promoted. These results suggested that OPL could activate TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway and thereby improve the activity of KCs by regulating miR-1338.