Characterization of Alpinia officinarum Hance polysaccharide and its immune modulatory activity in mice

• Published in: Food & function 2022-02, Vol.13 (4), p.2228-2237
• Main Authors: Ni, Jiahao, Chen, Huricha, Zhang, Chenglong, Luo, Qiyuan, Qin, Yao, Yang, Yuhui, Chen, Yun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Alpinia; Alpinia officinarum; Animals; Biological activity; Cellulose; Cytokines; Damage detection; Drug development; Feature extraction; Female; Immunologic Factors - administration & dosage; Immunologic Factors - chemistry; Immunologic Factors - pharmacology; Immunomodulation; Immunomodulation - drug effects; Immunosuppressive agents; Methylation; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Molecular weight; Monosaccharides; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Oral administration; Physicochemical properties; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - administration & dosage; Polysaccharides - chemistry; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Structural analysis
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/d1fo03949k

This study aimed to characterize the structural features of a novel water-soluble polysaccharide (AOHP) extracted from Hance and to verify its regulating effect on mouse immunity. Cellulose DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 columns were used to obtain purified AOHP. Techniques including NMR, methylation, monosaccharide composition, FT-IR, and molecular weight determination were applied to investigate the physicochemical properties and structural characterization of AOHP. Then, the influence of AOHP on mice was studied. After oral administration of AOHP, organ indexes, serum biochemistry indexes, and cytokines in the spleens of the mice were analysed. The results showed that AOHP was composed of T-α-D-Glc , (1,4)-α-D-Glc and (1,4,6)-α-D-Glc with a number-average molecular weight of 26.0 kDa and a weight-average molecular weight of 52.8 kDa. Additionally, the innate immune statuses of the mice were improved by treatment with AOHP, while no obvious damage was identified. To conclude, the immunomodulatory activity and biological safety make AOHP a viable candidate as an ingredient for healthcare drugs.