Object To compare the compositions and the
immunoactivities of
polysaccharide in hair root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.)
Bge.(HAPS), which was cultivated by biotechnology, with the
polysaccharide in A. membranaceus (APS), to prove the similar properties both of them. Methods Sulphuric acid-phenol method was used to analyze the polysaccharide contents; completely acid hydrolysis, aditol acetate derivative and GC were used to determine the polysaccharides; the weight of spleen and thymus; phagocytosis function of macrophage ; hemolysin production and 〔 3 H〕-TdR incorperation ELISA kit assays were used to evaluate the
immunoactivities in mice. Results The polysaccharides of the hair root were 1.85%, that of A. membranaceus were 2.61%. Both of HAPS and APS had the same monosaccharide composition, but the molar ratio of them was different. HAPS and APS were divided into three parts by different ethanol concentration. The homogeneity was verified by DEAE-Sepharose FF chromatography. HAPS I and APS I were similar, HAPS II and APS II were also similar, HAPS III and APS III were different. HAPS and APS increased the weight of mouse spleen, APS increased the weight of thymus. Both of them increased phagcytosis function of macrophage and inhibited the hemolysin production in mice. HAPS and APS significantly stimulated lymphocyte proliferation of spleen and secreted IFN-γ. ConclusionThe results confirmed that HAPS and APS had similar chemical compositions and immunoactivities, but the intensity showed slightly difference