The Effect of Pectinase-Assisted Extraction on the Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Polysaccharides from Aster scaber.

The edible and medicinal perennial herb Aster scaber is known to have anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the biological effects of its polysaccharides are not well understood. Here, we aimed to extract novel polysaccharides with enhanced biological properties from Aster scaber using enzyme-assisted methods. Amylase, cellulase, and pectinase were used to extract enzyme-assisted polysaccharide (ASEP)-A, ASEP-C, and ASEP-P, respectively. The yields, physicochemical properties, and immunostimulatory activities of the polysaccharides were investigated and compared with those of hot water extracted polysaccharide (ASWP). The highest yield (3.8%) was achieved for ASEP-P extracted using pectinase digestion. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and chemical composition analysis revealed that ASWP and three ASEPs were typical acidic heteropolysaccharides, mainly comprising rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, and galacturonic acid. Immunostimulatory activity assays on RAW264.7 macrophages showed ASEP-P to have the greatest immunostimulatory potential in terms of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine productions and phagocytic activity. ASEP-P administration improved immune-enhancing effects in normal mice by improving the spleen index and splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and in immunosuppressed mice by modulating lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and leukocyte counts. The ASEP-P derived from pectinase hydrolysate of Aster scaber demonstrated efficacious immunostimulatory properties and has potential applications as an immune stimulator.

Immunostimulatory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Makgeolli (traditional Korean rice wine).

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine, reported to have various biological functions. In this study, the immunostimulatory activity of a polysaccharide from makgeolli (PSM) was investigated. The polysaccharide fraction was isolated from makgeolli by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, dialysis, and lyophilization. The major constituents in PSM were neutral sugars (87.3%). PSM was composed of five different sugars, glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose. In normal mice, PSM treatment increased the spleen index (p<0.05) as well as splenocyte proliferation (p<0.05) in combination with concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. The immunostimulatory activities of PSM were also examined in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Mice treated with PSM exhibited increased splenocyte proliferation (p<0.05), natural killer cell activity, and white blood cell counts (p<0.01) compared with immunosuppressed mice. These results indicate that PSM can enhance immune function in normal mice and CY-induced immunosuppressed mice.

Enzyme-assisted extraction, chemical characteristics, and immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharides from Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer).

In this study, enzyme-assisted extraction was used to isolate functional polysaccharides from Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) and the physicochemical and biological properties of the extracted polysaccharides were investigated, comparing with those from traditional hot-water extraction (FGWP). In macrophages, their effects on cytokines production could be ordered as FGEP-CA ≥ FGEP-A > FGEP-C > FGWP, suggesting that FGEP-CA (combined cellulase- and α-amylase-extracted polysaccharide) is a potent immunostimulator. In addition, enzymatic digestion led to differences in the monosaccharide profile of the extract. FGWP mainly consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucose in molar percentages of 1.8:10.1:9.2:17.8:60.6, whereas FGEP-CA was 3.2:11.4:16.5:22.3:45.8, respectively, suggesting that enzyme-assisted extraction of ginseng polysaccharides produces a higher proportion of pectin polysaccharides. The HPLC profile of FGEP-CA also showed lower and more heterogeneous molecular weights than FGWP did. In cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice, FGEP-CA administration ameliorated decreased spleen and thymus indices (200 mg/kg), lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell activity, leukocyte counts, and the serum cytokines, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ (100 and 200 mg/kg). These results suggest that enzyme-assisted extraction using cellulase and α-amylase is an effective method for the preparation of functional polysaccharides from fresh Korean ginseng, and FGEP-CA could be utilized as a potential immune-stimulatory agent.

Gallic acid increases atrial natriuretic peptide secretion and mechanical dynamics through activation of PKC.

AIMS: Gallic acid (GA) protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, prevents cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and has anti-inflammatory activity in the heart. However, its effects in regulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the function of GA in regulating ANP secretion and atrial dynamics in rat atria. KEY FINDINGS: GA (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1µmol/L) significantly increased atrial ANP secretion and induced positive inotropy dose-dependently. GA (0.1µmol/L) also increased plasma level of ANP and hemodynamics in rats. These effects were accompanied by upregulation of atrial protein kinase C subtypes ß and ε (PKCß and PKCε), which was completely blocked by LY333531 and EAVSLKPT, antagonists of protein PKCß and PKCε, respectively. GA-induced ANP secretion was also attenuated by Gö6983 but not rottlerin, antagonists of PKCα and PKCδ, and the positive inotropy was reversed by Gö6983. U-73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) antagonist, mitigated the effects of GA on ANP secretion and mechanical dynamics and downregulated Phospho-PLCß at Ser537 (pPLCß S537), Phospho-PLCß at Ser1105 (pPLCß S1105), PKCß and PKCε levels, whereas KN62, an inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II, was not modified the GA-induced ANP secretion and suppressed GA-induced mechanical dynamics. SIGNIFICANCE: GA promotes ANP secretion and effects positive inotropy with regard to mechanical dynamics through the activation of PLC-PKC signaling in rat atria.

[Nutritional status survey in 200 of the Korean and Han nationality elderly in Yanji].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status and dietary intake of the Korean and Han nationality elderly in Yanji. METHODS: We selected 200 of the Korean and Han nationality adults aged 60 and older and measured their blood pressure. Dietary survey was performed with 24-hour dietary recall method. RESULTS: (1) The daily average intake of energy surpassed recommended nutrient intake (RNI) value in male and amounted RNI in women. In the male, Breakfast energy intake ratio was significantly lower and supper energy intake ratio was significantly higher than female. Supper energy intake in male with hypertension was significantly higher than normal blood pressure. (2) The daily average intake of fat in the Korean was significantly lower than in Han nationality (P < 0.01), and also was lower than RNI value. The daily average intake of carbohydrate in the Korean was significantly higher than in Han nationality (P < 0.01). (3) The daily average intake of protein exceed RNI value in the Korean male and was slightly lower than RNI value in Han male and both nationality women. The daily average intake of protein in the Korean males was significantly higher than in Han males (P < 0.01). The ratio of good protein was 35%-45% and bean protein exceed 15%. (4) The daily average intakes of calcium and vitamin A were only half RNI value and vitamin B2 lower than RNI values. CONCLUSION: The consumption of some nutrients among the Korean and Han nationality is inequality. The daily intake of calcium, vitamin A and vitamin B2 in elderly is seriously inadequate. Distribution of three meal energy is irrational and the high ratio of supper energy in male relates to hypertension.

Cheonggukjang polysaccharides enhance immune activities and prevent cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression.

Cheonggukjang is a traditional Korean fermentation product prepared from soybean that is reported to have various biological functions. We previously reported that the polysaccharides from Cheonggukjang (PSCJ) have immunostimulatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophages and primary cultured splenocytes. In this study, the immunostimulatory activities of the PSCJ were investigated further using various experimental models such as in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The PSCJ was able to stimulate the complement system (ITCH50: 30.6%). In primary cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, the PSCJ was found to significantly increase nitric oxide and immunostimulatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-12) production in a concentration-dependent manner (1-100 µg/mL). In the normal mice model, the oral administration of the PSCJ increased the weight of spleen (p < 0.05 at 100 and 200 mg/kg) and improved the phagocytic rates of peritoneal macrophages (p < 0.05 at 200 mg/kg) and lymphocytes proliferation (p < 0.05 at 100 and 200 mg/kg). Similarly, the PSCJ markedly restored the decreased lymphocytes proliferation (p < 0.01 at 200 mg/kg), natural killer cell activity (p < 0.01 at 200mg/kg), and white blood cell count (p<0.01 at 100 and 200 mg/kg) in the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice model. These results suggest that the PSCJ could be utilized as an effective immunostimulatory agent.