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Three polysaccharides were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. They were named RCNP, RCAP-1, and RCAP-2, and had apparent molecular weights of 1.14 × 104, 5.09 × 104, and 2.58 × 105, respectively. Their structures were characterized by HPGPC, chemical derivative analysis, GC–MS and NMR analyses. Results showed that RCNP contained arabinan and arabinogalactan regions. The arabinan region had a main chain comprising (1 → 5)-linked Ara f residues, and the side chains branched at the O-3 position by the single Ara f residues. The arabinogalactan region comprised alternating (1 → 4)-, (1 → 6)- or (1 → 3)-linked Gal p along with small amounts of branches mainly at the O-3 position of the (1 → 6)-linked Gal p or O-6 position of the (1 → 3)-linked Gal p residues by terminally linked Ara f residues. RCAP-1 and RCAP-2 were highly methyl-esterified pectin-type polysaccharides with long homogalacturonan regions interrupted by a short rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region. The side chains of the RG-I region consisted of (1 → 2)-linked Rha residues attached to the position O-4 of rhamnose. Their degrees of methyl-esterification were approximately 60.6% and 68.1%, respectively. Bioactivity tests showed that RCAP-1 and RCAP-2 exerted a significant immunostimulatory effect based on NO production from RAW264.7 macrophages. These results suggested that these two pectin-type polysaccharides were potential immunostimulation agents. • Three purified polysaccharides were isolated. • Structural characterization of these polysaccharides were identified. • Two pectin-type polysaccharides exhibited a significant immunostimulatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C. tinctoria) is a natural plant with many health benefits, such as clearing heat and toxic materials. In this study, we investigate the effect of a polysaccharide from C. tinctoria , aiming at improving the tumor microenvironment, which is associated with non-resolving inflammation. Through combining ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography, a polysaccharide named CTAP-3 is purified from the crude polysaccharides of C. tinctoria. The structure of CTAP-3 is characterized through high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC–MS, FT–IR, and NMR. Results reveal that CTAP-3 consists of predominant amounts (87.2%) of galacturonic acid (GalA) residues, small amounts of arabinose (Ara) and rhamnose (Rham), and trace amounts of galactose (Gal). CTAP-3 is deduced to be native pectin-type polysaccharide containing a homo-galacturanan backbone consisting of α -(1 → 4)-linked GalA p and methyl-esterified α -(1 → 4)-linked GalA p residues in the ratio of 4:1. When myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are treated by CTAP-3, its suppressive effect on T cell proliferation is impaired. This result indicates that CTAP-3 is a candidate drug for improving the tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 were purified from Sargassum henslowianum. • Structural characterization of SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 was identified. • Both SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 exhibited strong anti-HSV effect. • They interfere with the adsorption of HSV-2 to host cells. Purified fucoidans SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 with apparent molecular weights of 6.55 × 105 and 5.89 × 105, respectively, were isolated from Sargassum henslowianum by ion-exchange and gel-filtration column chromatography. They are both composed of fucose and galactose at a ratio of around 3:1 and 31.9% sulfate. The backbone of two fucoidans consists of α -(1→3)-linked L-Fuc p residues which are mainly sulfated on the C-2 and C-4 positions. Side chains composed of terminally linked α -L-Fuc p and α -D-Gal p residues, and (1→2)-, (1→6)-, and (1→2,6)-linked β -D-Gal p residues attach mainly at O -4 position of backbone residues. Antiviral test showed that the IC 50 values of SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 against HSV-1 were estimated to be 0.89 and 0.82 μg/mL by plaque reduction assay, respectively, whereas both as low as 0.48 μg/mL against HSV-2. The antiviral mechanism of the fucoidans might be at least through blocking HSV-2 virion adsorption to host cells. These results suggest that the fucoidans have potential clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulate in tumor-bearing hosts and play a major role in tumor-induced immunosuppression. The potent modulatory effects of polysaccharides on the innate and adaptive immune system stimulate antitumor responses. In this study, a polysaccharide with an apparent molecular weight of 14.0 kD was isolated from Curcuma kwangsiensis and designated as CKAP-2. The polysaccharide was characterized through high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC–MS, FT–IR, and NMR. Results revealed that CKAP-2 is a highly methyl-esterified pectin-type polysaccharide. It is predominantly composed of a homogalacturonan region and small amounts of type-I rhamonogalacturonan regions. Its degree of methyl-esterification is approximately 62.4%. The effect of CKAP-2 on MDSC-medicated immunosuppression was primarily tested. CKAP-2 recovered the MSC2-supressed proliferation of CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells. This finding suggested that CKAP-2 can reverse MDSC-mediated T-cell suppression and that CKAP-2 can be potentially applied in antitumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]