Immunomodulatory activity of Senegalia macrostachya (Reichenb. ex DC.) Kyal. & Boatwr seed polysaccharide fraction through the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway in RAW264.7 macrophages

Food Funct. 2022 Apr 20;13(8):4664-4677. doi: 10.1039/d1fo04432j.

Abstract

Senegalia macrostachya (Reichenb. ex DC.) Kyal. & Boatwr seed (SMS) is a wild legume used as food and medicine in many African countries. In the current study, a novel polysaccharide (SMSP2) was extracted from SMS using hot water and purified with DEAE-52 cellulose. Its structure was characterized, and the immunomodulatory activity and possible molecular mechanism in murine macrophage RAW264.7 were explored. The results revealed that SMSP2 was a uronic acid-rich polysaccharide (51.6%, w/w) with a molecular weight of 52.07 kDa. The neutral sugars were mainly arabinose, xylose, mannose, and galactose at a molar ratio of 1.00 : 0.84 : 0.90 : 0.07. Interestingly, SMSP2 treatment markedly promoted macrophage proliferation and phagocytosis and induced the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. SMSP2-induced macrophage stimulation occurs through the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Moreover, macrophage surface complement receptor 3 (CR3) might play an important role in SMSP2-induced macrophage activation. This study revealed that SMSP2 is a potent immunomodulator, which could be used as a functional food and a pharmaceutical adjuvant in treating immune-compromising diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
  • Fabaceae* / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases* / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • NF-kappa B
  • Polysaccharides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases