Views: 10 Author: QianghuaYuan，FanXie，JingTan，YanYuan，HuMei，YanZheng，RongSheng Publish Time: 2022-09-16 Origin: Journal of Functional Foods Volume 89, February 2022, 104909
Studies have shown that C. sinensis polysaccharides have various pharmacological effects including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and prebiotics effect.
Currently, studies show that C. sinensis polysaccharides have anti-oxidant activity in vitro. The Trolox equivalent radical scavenging capacity of the polysaccharides Cs-GP1 (from mycelium) and EPS (from fermentation broth) were 1183.8 and 40 μmol Trolox/g, and the Fe3+ reducing ability were 611.1 and 52 μmol Fe2+/g, respectively (Leung et al., 2009, Wu et al., 2014). The hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity of the polysaccharides EPS (from fermentation broth) and CPS (from mycelium) were 3.78 and 0.74 mg/ml, and ABTS (2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) scavenging capacity were 2.00 and 0.22 mg/ml, respectively (Li et al., 2016, Nguyen et al., 2021). The DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity of the polysaccharides IPS (from mycelium) and CPS (from mycelium) were 0.54 and 0.74 mg/ml, respectively (Li et al., 2016, Xu et al., 2012). Cell research showed that the polysaccharide CME-1 (from mycelium, 25–100 μg/ml) protected RAW264.7 cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting the activity of sphingomyelinases and decreasing the levels of C16-ceramide and C18-ceramide (Wang, Yang, et al., 2011). The polysaccharides APS (from mycelium) and CSP-1 (from mycelium) (50–200 μg/ml) protected PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage by increasing the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, and decreasing the contents of intracellular Ca2+, ROS (reactive oxygen species), lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde (Shao et al., 2003, Shen et al., 2011). In rats with exhaustive swimming exercise, the polysaccharide CSP (from mycelium, 100–400 mg/kg) increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase and reduced malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine levels in serum, liver, and muscle (Yan, Wang, & Zhang, 2014). In short, oxidative stress damage is involved in the occurrence and development of most diseases, and the antioxidant activities of C. sinensis polysaccharides is undoubtedly useful for the treatment of diseases. Immune response is an important defense strategy for the body against infections, tumors and other diseases. The activation of immune cells and the secretion of related cytokines are considered critical indicators. In vitro studies have shown that C. sinensis polysaccharides can regulate immune activity of macrophages by activating NF-κB (nuclear factor κ-B) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathways. By activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and increasing the expression of TNF-α, IL-12, and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), the polysaccharide APSF (from mycelium, 12.5–100 μg/ml) promoted the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 macrophages, stimulated the production of NO, and converted M2 macrophages into M1 phenotype (Chen et al., 2012, Chen et al., 2010). The polysaccharide OSP (from mycelium, 10–100 μg/ml) stimulated the production of NO in RAW264.7 macrophages by activating the MAPK and PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/Akt (protein kinase B) signaling pathways (Liu et al., 2021). The polysaccharide CCP (from nature, 20–100 μg/ml) induced IL-6 and TNF-α production of RAW264.7 macrophages through the direct and selective TLR4 (toll-like receptor 4)/MyD88 (myeloid differentiation factor 88)/p38 axis (Zhang et al., 2021). HSWP-2a (from mycelium, 10–100 μg/ml) enhanced the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 macrophages and increased the production of NO, IL-113, IL-6, and TNF-α by activating the p38, JNK, and NF-κB signaling pathways (Rong et al., 2021). In addition to regulating the immune activity of macrophages, in vitro studies show that C. sinensis polysaccharides can regulate the immune activity of dendritic cells and T lymphocytes. The polysaccharide UST-2000 (from mycelium, 6.25–100 μg/ml) could induce the proliferation of human T lymphocytes and promote the secretion of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 by activating the ERK (extracellular regulated protein kinases) signaling pathway (Cheung et al., 2009). Research by Huang et al. showed that the polysaccharide EPS (from fermentation broth, 25–100 μg/ml) increased the levels of surface human leukocyte antigen-DR and co-stimulatory molecules of human dendritic cells and enhanced T cells stimulatory capacity by increasing IL-12 level and decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor level (Huang, Dan, Yang, Yin, & Zhang, 2011). Research by Song et al. showed that the polysaccharide EPS (from fermentation broth, 25–100 μg/ml) increased the levels of surface molecules MHC (major histocompatibility complex) II, CD40 (cluster of differentiation 40), CD80 and CD86 in mouse dendritic cells, reduced their uptake ability and up-regulated the expression of cytokine IL-12p40, TNF-α and iNOS (Song, Lin, Yuan, & Zhang, 2011). Moreover, both studies showed that the immunostimulatory effect was related to the inhibition of the STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) signaling pathway. A follow-up study by Song et al. showed that EPS (from fermentation broth, 25–100 μg/ml) activated the mouse dendritic cells by inhibiting the JAK2 (Janus kinase 2)/STAT3 signaling pathway and activating the NF-κB signaling pathway (Song et al., 2013). In vivo studies have further confirmed the immunomodulatory effect of C. sinensis polysaccharides. The polysaccharide EPS (from fermentation broth, 20–70 mg/kg) improved cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive in mice by promoting the release of IL-10, TNF-α, and INF-γ (Hu et al., 2016). The polysaccharide CS-PS (from mycelium, 50–100 mg/kg) enhanced the immune activity of mice exposed to 60Co by enhancing the proliferation of lymphocytes, the phagocytic activity of macrophages and the secretion of IL-5 and IL-17 (Zhang et al., 2011). In short, C. sinensis polysaccharides can regulate the activities of macrophages, dendritic cells and T lymphocytes, and promote the expression of immune factors. This makes C. sinensis polysaccharides promising for the treatment of immune-related diseases. The polysaccharide CME-1 (from mycelium, 25–100 μg/ml) could inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory response of RAW 264.7 cells by inhibiting the activation of p65, Akt and MAPK signaling pathways and up-regulating ceramide-induced PP2A activation (Sheu et al., 2018). The polysaccharide EPS (from fermentation broth, 25–100 μg/ml) inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response of the THP-1 and RAW264.7 cells by decreasing the expression of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In mice with LPS-induced acute intestinal injury, EPS (25–300 mg/kg) also suppressed the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 and iNOS and alleviated the intestinal injury (Li et al., 2020). Moreover, the subsequent research showed that the low-molecular-weight polysaccharide LM-EPS (obtained by using Bifidobacteria to degrade EPS) had stronger anti-inflammatory effect and inhibited the release of NO, TNF-α and IL-8 stronger than EPS itself (Li, Song, Wong, & Wu, 2021). The polysaccharide CSP (from nature, 150 mg/kg) inhibited the activation of toll-like receptor 9 and the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, and cyclooxygenase-2 in cyclophosphamide-induced liver injury mice (Songtao et al., 2018). Therefore, these results indicate that C. sinensis polysaccharides can inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and the inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of multiple signaling pathways including the NF-κB, Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways. Since many diseases involve inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of C. sinensis polysaccharides makes them promising for the treatment of many diseases. For Bifidobacteria cultured in vitro, the polysaccharide EPS (from fermentation broth, 0.2–3 mg/ml) could promote the viability and colony formation, and increase the acetic acid production (Song, Mao, Siu, & Wu, 2018). In vitro fecal fermentation, EPS (from fermentation broth, 1 mg/ml) could increase the proportions of Blautia, Eubacterium, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and Prevotella and decreased the proportions of Dorea and Escherichia (Mao et al., 2020). In cyclophosphamide-induced intestinal injury mice, the polysaccharide NCSP (from nature, 50–100 mg/kg) regulated intestinal microbiota structure, including increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreasing the proportions of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia (Chen et al., 2021). Since intestinal flora is closely related to intestinal health, C. sinensis polysaccharides are expected to play an intestinal protective effect.1. Anti-oxidant activity
2. Immunomodulatory activity
3. Anti-inflammatory activity
4. Prebiotics effect
