Structural characterization of a novel Schisandra polysaccharides and nutritional intervention in immunotoxicity to PCBs

A new polysaccharide from fruits of Schisandra chinensis (SCPP22) with a molecular weight of 143 +/- 0.13 KDa was mainly made up of glucose and galactose. The possible structure of SCPP22 was showed that its main chain was composed of 1,4-alpha-D-Glup and branch was stretched from O-6 position of 1,4-beta-D-Glup. Branches consisted of T-alpha-D-Galp. Further, SCPP22 could reverse PCB126-induced immunosuppression, significantly enhance body weight and immune organ indices. It also significantly ameliorated oxidative injury to immune organ induced by PCB126, as shown by evaluation of SOD activities, as well as MDA levels in spleen and thymus. SCPP22 strongly stimulated cytokines production by up-regulating mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, INF-gamma and IL-2. Mechanism investigation revealed that recovery effects of SCPP22 in immunosuppression induced by PCB126 are mainly through regulating apoptosis-related proteins expression. Schisandra polysaccharides might be applied in functional food as nutritional intervention ingredient.

Automated summary

The newly discovered polysaccharide SCPP22 from Schisandra chinensis fruits was shown to have beneficial effects in reversing PCB126-induced immunosuppression, enhancing body weight, improving oxidative injury in immune organs, and stimulating cytokine production. Its mechanism of action involves regulating apoptosis-related proteins expression. Schisandra polysaccharides could potentially be used in functional food as a nutritional intervention ingredient.