Structural elucidation and immunostimulatory activity of a new polysaccharide from Cordyceps militaris

Food Funct. 2018 Jan 24;9(1):279-293. doi: 10.1039/c7fo01147d.

Abstract

A new polysaccharide (CMPB90-1) was isolated from cultured Cordyceps militaris by alkaline extraction. The chemical structure of CMPB90-1 was determined by analysis of physicochemical and spectral data. The backbone of CMPB90-1 is composed of (1→6)-linked α-d-glucopyranosyl and (1→3)-linked α-d-glucopyranosyl residues, with branching at O-6, which consists of (1→4)-linked β-d-mannopyranosyl and (1→6)-linked α-d-glucopyranosyl residues, respectively. β-d-Galactopyranosyl residues is the terminal unit. In vitro immunomodulatory assay revealed that CMPB90-1 promoted proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, enhanced cytotoxicity of NK cells and promoted lymphocyte secretion of the cytokine interleukin-2. Besides, CMPB90-1 upregulated T-cell subpopulation, strengthened phagocytosis function of macrophages and induced their M1 polarization. The mechanism of the effects might be due to the activation of TLR2, MAPK and NF-κB pathways. The results proposed that CMPB90-1 can be researched and developed as a new functional food.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / isolation & purification
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cordyceps / chemistry*
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / chemistry
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / immunology
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / immunology
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cytokines
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polysaccharides