Structural characterization of a homogalacturonan from Capparis spinosa L. fruits and anti-complement activity of its sulfated derivative

Glycoconj J. 2012 Aug;29(5-6):379-87. doi: 10.1007/s10719-012-9418-x. Epub 2012 Jul 1.

Abstract

A water-soluble polysaccharide CSPS-2B-2 with a molecular mass of 8.8 kDa, was obtained from the fruits of Capparis spinosa L. Chemical and NMR spectral analysis verified CSPS-2B-2 was a linear poly-(1-4)-α-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid in which 12.9±0.4% of carboxyl groups existed as methyl ester and 2.6±0.1% of D-GalpA residues were acetylated. A sulfated derivative Sul-2B-2 with a sulfation degree of 0.88±0.02 was prepared via the substitution of C-2 and/or C-3 of GalpA residues in CSPS-2B-2. Bioassay on the complement and coagulation system demonstrated that Sul-2B-2 (CH(50): 3.5±0.2 μg/mL) had a stronger inhibitory effect on the activation of complement system through the classic pathway than that of heparin (CH(50): 8.9±0.3 μg/mL). Interestingly, Sul-2B-2 at low dose even middle dose (for example 52 μg/mL) had no effect on coagulation system, which was totally different from heparin. Thus, our observation indicated that Sul-2B-2 was more efficient than heparin in inhibiting the activation of the complement system through classical pathway and exhibiting a relatively less anti-coagulant activity. These results suggested that the sulfated derivative Sul-2B-2 prepared from the homogalacturonan in the fruits of Capparis spinosa L, might be a promising drug candidate in case of necessary therapeutic complement inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticoagulants / chemistry
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Capparis / chemistry*
  • Chromatography
  • Complement Inactivating Agents / chemistry*
  • Complement Inactivating Agents / isolation & purification
  • Complement System Proteins / chemistry*
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Heparin / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Pectins / chemistry*
  • Pectins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Rabbits
  • Sheep
  • Sulfuric Acid Esters / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Complement Inactivating Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sulfuric Acid Esters
  • Pectins
  • Heparin
  • Complement System Proteins
  • polygalacturonic acid