Immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide-protein complex of longan (dimocarpus longan lour.) pulp

Abstract

The immunomodulatory function of longan pulp polysaccharide-protein complex (LP3) was investigated in immunosuppressed mice models. Compared with the model control, peroral administration of 100 mgkg -1d -1 LP3 could significantly increase/enhance antibody production against chicken red blood cell (CRBC), concanavalin A (ConA)-induced splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell, and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in serum (P < 0.05). The immunomodulatory effects, except for those on splenocytes and macrophages (P > 0.05), were also observed in mice administered with 50 or 200 mgkg -1d -1 LP3 (P < 0.05). The beneficial effects of 50-200 mgkg -1d -1 LP3 were comparable to those of 50 mgkg -1d -1 ganoderan. The strong immunomodulatory activity of LP3 confirmed its good potential as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.