Structural characterization and immunostimulatory activity of a novel linear α-(1→6)-D-glucan isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer

Glycoconj J. 2012 Aug;29(5-6):357-64. doi: 10.1007/s10719-012-9403-4. Epub 2012 Jun 9.

Abstract

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is a well-known plant medicine in the world. Ginseng polysaccharides mainly contain starch-like glucan and pectin. In this paper, a novel glucan WGPA-UH-N1 was purified from ginseng pectin by the treatment of de-esterification and endo-polygalacturonase, followed by the chromatographies on DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephadex G-50 column. WGPA-UH-N1 has molecular weight about 17 kDa. WGPA-UH-N1 was determined to be a linear α-(1→6)-D-glucan without side chains by FT-IR, (13)C-NMR, (1)H-NMR, HMQC and HMBC spectra. It is the first time to isolate a linear α-(1→6)-D-glucan from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Immunological activity assays showed that WGPA-UH-N1, although not effective on the phagocytosis of macrophage, could significantly induce lymphocyte proliferation without mitogenic stimuli at 1.0 mg/mL or with LPS at 0.5 mg/mL, also significantly increase NO production at the range of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. The immunological activities of WGPA-UH-N1 are different from those of the β-(1→6)-D-glucan (BIWP2) isolated from the fruit bodies of Bulgaria Inquinans (Fries).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascomycota / chemistry
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chromatography
  • Glucans / chemistry*
  • Glucans / isolation & purification
  • Glucans / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry*
  • Immunologic Factors / isolation & purification
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Panax / chemistry*
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Polygalacturonase / chemistry
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

  • Glucans
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Polygalacturonase