Structure characterization and Anti-Rheumatoid arthritis activity of a polysaccharide from Notopterygium incisum.

SCOPE: Notopterygium incisum is a traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Polysaccharide from N. incisum could be one of its main active components. However, there have been little investigations on N. incisum polysaccharides.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A novel polysaccharide named NIP was extracted from Notopterygium incisum with a molecular weight of 2.34×106  Da. NIP, composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, and galacturonic acid, was linked by methyl esterified 1,4-linked α-galacturonic acid, 1,6-linked β-galactose, 1,5-linked α-arabinose, and 1,4,6-linked β- glucose. In vitro, NIP could inhibit the NO production of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In vivo, NIP relieved toe redness and swelling of AIA rats, reduced the release of inflammatory factors in the serum, and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways. In addition, NIP could effectively decrease oxidative stress, reverse intestinal flora imbalance, and promote butyric acid-producing bacteria's proliferation to exert anti-RA activity.

CONCLUSION: NIP might be recommended as a functional food that can alleviate the damage of rheumatoid arthritis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.