Structural characterization of water-soluble polysaccharides from Sophora flavescens Ait. and their anti-inflammatory activities based on NO release.

Sophora flavescens Ait. is a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases. In this study, four polysaccharides, SFNP-1, SFNP-2, SFAP-1, and SFAP-2, were isolated from S. flavescens. Both SFNP-1 and SFNP-2 were (1→4)-linked glucans. SFAP-1 and SFAP-2 were identified as pectin-type polysaccharides containing mainly a homo-galacturanan backbone (as shown). NO release inhibition test revealed that the major polysaccharides, SFAP-1 and SFAP-2, did not have a significant anti-inflammatory effect. This result suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect of S. flavescens may not depend on its polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]