Planta Med 2000; 66(2): 152-156
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-11125
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Modified Aloe barbadensis Polysaccharide with Immunoregulatory Activity

Zhihua Qiu*, Ken Jones, Mark Wylie, Qi Jia,, Steve Orndorff
  • Department of Drug Discovery and Screening, Univera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Broomfield, CO, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Abstract

Aloe barbadensis polysaccharide was partially digested with cellulase and further purified by dialysis, stepwise ethanol precipitation, and size exclusion chromatography. Crude modified Aloe polysaccharide (MAP) activated macrophage cells and stimulated fibroblast growth. Under the same conditions, native Aloe barbadensis gel had no effect on macrophage activation. MAP prevented ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced immune suppression as determined by contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response in C3H/HeN mice. This in vivo activity was correlated with the activity of MAP to inhibit UVB irradiation-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) release from human epidermoid carcinoma cells (KB cells). MAP with an average molecular weight of 80,000 Dalton (Da) contained mannose, galactose, and glucose in a ratio of 40 : 1.4 : 1.0. MAP was likely a linear, highly acetylated molecule.

Abbreviations

MAP:modified Aloe polysaccharide

UVB:Ultraviolet B

CHS:contact hypersensitivity

TNF-α:Tumor necrosis factor α

DNFB:dinitrofluorobenzene

KB cells:human epidermoid carcinoma cells

References

Dr. Zhihua Qiu

Department of Drug Discovery and Screening

Univera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

100 Technology Drive

Suite 160

Broomfield, CO 80021

USA

Email: jqiu@upi1.com

Phone: +1-303-438-9483