Combination of selenium‐enriched green tea polysaccharides and Huo‐ji polysaccharides synergistically enhances antioxidant and immune activity in mice

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture 2015-12, Vol.95 (15), p.3211-3217
• Main Authors: Yuan, Chengfu, Li, Zhihong, Peng, Fan, Xiao, Fangxiang, Ren, Dongming, Xue, Hui, Chen, Tao, Mushtaq, Gohar, Kamal, Mohammad Amjad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Animals; antioxidant activity; antioxidant system; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Cytokines - metabolism; Drug Synergism; Free radicals; Gene expression; glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Green tea; Huo-ji; Immune system; Immunity - drug effects; interleukin-6; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; messenger RNA; Mice; natural killer cells; neoplasms; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 - metabolism; Nrf2; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Pyracantha - chemistry; Rodents; Selenium - pharmacology; Selenium Compounds - pharmacology; selenium-enriched green tea; Spleen; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - metabolism; splenocytes; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; thymus gland; Thymus Gland - drug effects; Thymus Gland - metabolism; Trace Elements - pharmacology; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumours
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.7287

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a combination of selenium‐enriched green tea polysaccharides (Se‐GTP) and Huo‐ji polysaccharides (HJP) on the immune function and antioxidant activity in mice. RESULTS: The results showed that the indices of spleen and thymus were markedly increased, and the activity of natural killer (NK) cell was promoted in mice treated with the combination of Se‐GTP and HJP. The combined treatment of Se‐GTP and HJP also reduced the content of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in splenocytes. In addition, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were remarkably enhanced, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly reduced in mice treated with combination of Se‐GTP and HJP. Furthermore, the combined treatment of Se‐GTP and HJP increased nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor (Nrf2) expression at mRNA and protein levels in splenocytes. The effects of the combination treatment of Se‐GTP and HJP in mice were stronger than with Se‐GTP or HJP treatment alone. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the combined administration of Se‐GTP and HJP can synergistically improve immune function and decrease the oxidative stress by enhancing the mechanisms involved in the clearance of free radicals. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry