Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of an arabinogalactan from Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton tea processing waste

An arabinogalactan named JSP-1a was isolated from Jasmine tea processing waste by DEAE Sepharose FF and Sephacryl S-200 HR chromatography. Polysaccharide JSP-1a, with an average molecular weight of 87.5 kDa, was composed of galactose (59.60 %), arabinose (33.89 %), mannose (4.81 %), and rhamnose (1.70 %). JSP-1a was found to be a type II arabinogalactan comprising the main backbone of 1, 6-linked Galp residues, and the side chain containing alpha-T-Araf, alpha-1,5-Araf, beta-T-Galp, beta-1,3-Galp, and beta-1,4-Manp residues was attached to the O-3 position of beta-1,3,6-Galp residues. Evidence from bioactivity assays indicated that JSP-1a possessed potent immunomodulatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages: treatment with JSP-1a increased phagocytosis, activated NF-kappa B p65 translocation, and promoted the production of NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS), the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-6. Furthermore, inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4 caused the suppression of NO release and cytokines secretion, which indicated that TLR-4/NF-kappa B pathway might play a significant role in JSP-1a-induced macrophages' immune response. The results of this study could provide a theoretical basis of JSP1a as a safe immunostimulatory functional foods or a treatment for immunological diseases.