Inhibitory effect of carboxymethylpachymaran on cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in mice.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect and antioxidant activity of carboxymethylpachymaran on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice in vivo. The results showed that carboxymethylpachymaran could be used to overcome the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice. Moreover, it significantly increased the thymus and spleen indices, lysozyme, catalase and superoxidase dismutase activities, and total antioxidant capacity. In contrast, it decreased xanthine oxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels. The results indicated that carboxymethylpachymaran might play an important role in the prevention of oxidative damage in the immunological system.

Immunomodulatory activity in vitro and in vivo of polysaccharide from Potentilla anserina.

The polysaccharide (PAP) from Potentilla anserina was evaluated for modulating effects by using mouse peritoneal macrophage and the immunosuppressed-model cyclophosphamide-induced. Phagocytotic and mononuclear phagocytic system function assays showed that PAP stimulated the phagocytosis of phagocyte. Splenocyte proliferation assay showed that PAP acted the effect combining Con A or LPS in splenocyte proliferation. The parameters detected showed that PAP increased thymus and spleen indices, the levels of LDH and ACP in the spleen, and IL-10 and IFN-γ in serum in immunosuppressed mice. The results suggest that PAP is involved in immunomodulatory effects leading to the exploration for PAP as a potential immunostimulant.

Protective effect of a Potentilla anserine polysaccharide on oxidative damages in mice.

Potentilla anserine polysaccharide (PAP) was studied in vivo to investigate its antioxidant activity using the model of dexamethasone-induced oxidative stress in mice. The investigation demonstrated that PAP at 50, 100 or 200mg/kg body weight for 7 days respectively increased thymus index and spleen index, glutathione level, superoxidase dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity in both thymus and spleen and decreased the content of H(2)O(2) in spleen and NO in both thymus and spleen of mice. The results revealed that PAP was able to overcome dexamethasone-induced oxidative stress and might play an important role in repairs of oxidative damage in immunological system.

[Inhibitory action of Potentilla anserine polysaccharide fraction on H2O2-induced apoptosis of murine splenic lymphocytes].

A water-soluble polysaccharide fraction from root of Potentilla anserine was obtained. Gas chromatogram, FT-IR, physical and chemical characteristics of the Potentilla anserine polysaccharide fraction (PAPF) were analyzed. The protective effects of PAPF against the H2O2 induced process of apoptosis of murine splenic lymphocytes were investigated in vitro. Morphological assessment of apoptosis was performed with light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope. DNA fragmentation was visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The amount of apoptotic cells was measured by flow cytometry. The results showed that PAPF is composed of rhamnose, arabinose glucose and galactose. H2O2 (200 micromol x L(-1)) induced apoptosis of murine splenic lymphocytes with the cell volume reduced, cytoplasm and nuclear shrunk and DNA stained non-uniformly. Condensed chromatin and formation of apoptotic body were observed in the apoptotic cells. Apoptotic bodies in the cells treated with PAPF and H2O2 were less than those in H2O2 treatment alone. DNA fragmentation assay showed that PAPF (50, 100, 200, and 400 microg x mL(-1)) obviously reduced H2O2-induced ladder bands. Flow cytometry analysis showed that H2O2 increased the populations of apoptotic sub-G1 cells from 5.60% (control) to 45.40%, and PAPF decreased H2O2-induced apoptosis to 37.80%, 22.70%, 17.70%, and 8.50%, respectively. In conclusion, PAPF reduced H2O2-induced oxidative damage in a dose dependent manner.