Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides derived from persimmon leaves on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice

Abstract

We prepared 2 different crude polysaccharides from persimmon leaves, by hot water (PLW-0) and pectinase digestion (PLE-0), respectively. PLW-0 and PLE-0 showed similar sugar compositions and contained 11 different sugars, including rarely observed sugars such as 2-methyl-fucose, 2-methyl-xylose, apiose, and aceric acid. However, the uronic acid content of PLE-0 was lower than that of PLW-0, because of pectinase treatment. In normal mice, administration of PLW-0 and PLE-0 increased the spleen index and splenocyte proliferation. The effect of PLE-0 on the spleen index and splenocyte proliferation was greater than that of PLW-0. We subsequently assessed the immunomodulatory activities of PLW-0 and PLE-0 on cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed mice. We revealed that mice treated with PLW- 0 or PLE-0 showed increased splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity, and white blood cell numbers. Taken together, our results indicate that PLW-0 and PLE-0 can enhance immune function in normal mice and modulate CY-induced immune suppression. © The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology.