ABSTRACT
Oviductus ranae (O.ran.) has been widely used as a tonic and a traditional animal-based Chinese medicine. O.ran. extracts have been reported to have numerous biological activities, including activities that are often associated with mammalian glycosaminoglycans such as anti-inflammatory, antiosteoperotic, and anti-asthmatic. Glycosaminoglycans are complex linear polysaccharides ubiquitous in mammals that possess a wide range of biological activities. However, their presence and possible structural characteristics within O.ran. were previously unknown. In this study, glycosaminoglycans were isolated from O.ran. and their disaccharide compositions were analyzed by liquid chromatography-ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-MS-ITTOF). Heparan sulfate (HS)/heparin (HP), chondroitin sulfate (CS)/dermatan sulfate (DS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were detected in O.ran. with varied disaccharide compositions. HS species contain highly acetylated disaccharides, and have various structures in their constituent chains. CS/DS chains also possess a heterogeneous structure with different sulfation patterns and densities. This novel structural information could help clarify the possible involvement of these polysaccharides in the biological activities of O.ran..
Subject(s)
Glycosaminoglycans/analysis , Glycosaminoglycans/chemistry , Materia Medica/chemistry , Chondroitin Sulfates/analysis , Chromatography, Liquid , Dermatan Sulfate/analogs & derivatives , Dermatan Sulfate/analysis , Disaccharides/analysis , Disaccharides/isolation & purification , Glycosaminoglycans/isolation & purification , Heparin/analysis , Heparitin Sulfate/analysis , Mass Spectrometry/methods , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To research the effects of Alligator Zhikegao on relieving cough, dispelling phlegm and anti-inflammation. METHOD: The coughing tests in mice, the phenol red secreting tests in mice, ear edema tests in mice,and paw edema tests and subcutaneous cotton ball granuloma in rats were adopted for observing the related pharmacological effects of Alligator Zhikegao. RESULT: Alligator Zhikegao could obviously prolong the latent period and decrease the times of mouse coughing, and remarkably inhibit the mouse ear edema (P < 0.001), the rat paw edema and the hyperplasia of subcutaneous cotton ball granuloma in rats. Alligator Zhikegao 11.70 g x kg(-1) could significant improve the carbonic clearances of macrophages (P <0.05) and the hemolysin level in serum (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Alligator Zhikegao has significant effects on relieving cough, dispelling phlegm, anti-inflammation and immunological regulation.
Subject(s)
Alligators and Crocodiles , Antitussive Agents/therapeutic use , Expectorants/therapeutic use , Glycosaminoglycans/therapeutic use , Materia Medica/therapeutic use , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/isolation & purification , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Antitussive Agents/isolation & purification , Cough/drug therapy , Drug Combinations , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use , Ear Diseases/drug therapy , Edema/drug therapy , Expectorants/isolation & purification , Female , Glycosaminoglycans/isolation & purification , Granuloma/drug therapy , Male , Materia Medica/isolation & purification , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Mice , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Random Allocation , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
Mucopolyaccharide with molecular weight of 10253 Da was extracted and purified from fresh Holothuria atra Jaeger by means of enzymic and alkaline hydrolysis, potassium acetate and ethanol fractional precipitation. It was tested to be purified ingredient with agarose electrophoresis. The percentage content of galactosamine, glucuronic acid, fucose and sulfate in the mucopolysaccharide was 16.12%, 17.88%, 11.66% and 23.52% respectively.