Abstract:A novel acidic polysaccharide was isolated and purified from the hot-water extract of Pueraria lobate (Willd.) Ohwi root, using a sequential ion exchange chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography. The structural features of this acidic polysaccharide were characterized, and its immunomodulatory activity investigated. This acidic polysaccharide is a homogeneous glucan with branched chains, with an average molecular weight of 12300 u, which has no three spiral space conformation. The main linkage types of this polysacchide were α-(1→4) and α-(1→4, 6). Using RAW264.7 cells as the model, this acidic polysaccharide has been confirmed to exhibit an immunomodulatory activity through promoting the secretion of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α.
