Extraction, Characterization and Immunological Activity of Polysaccharides from Cynomorium songaricum Rupr.
Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. (CSP) have been used widely in TCM for many years, polysaccharides from CSP are main active component. In our previous research, we found that CSP play a role of immunomodulatory activity in vitro, but its mechanisms and in vivo immunomodulatory activity hadn’t been explored. In present study, we firstly extracted CSP and identified two new fractions CSP-a, CSP-b. To assess the immunomodulatory activity of CSP in vivo, cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice models were generated and then treated with CSP. The results demonstrated that CSP could improve thymus and spleen indices, phagocytic and clearance index, serum hemolysin, inflammatory cytokines productions in serum. To explore the mechanisms of CSP, CSP-a, CSP-b, RAW264.7 macrophages were used to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity in vitro, the results demonstrated that CSP, CSP-a, CSP-b can induce macrophage proliferation, enhance the phagocytic activity and increase cytokines expression. CSP, CSP-a, CSP-b possessed the immunomodulatory activity by inducing the phosphorylation of MAPKs. This study suggested that CSP may be useful for lessening chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression and proposed the basis for the clinical application of CSP.