Immune regulation and inflammation inhibition of Arctium lappa L. polysaccharides by TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in cells

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Jan;254(Pt 2):127700. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127700. Epub 2023 Oct 31.

Abstract

Arctium lappa L. polysaccharides (ALP) are important active ingredients of burdocks with various bioactivities. In the present study, a crude polysaccharide was extracted from A. lappa L. roots and purified using DEAE-52 and Sephacryl™ S-400 columns to reach 99 % purity. This neutral polysaccharide contained fructose, glucose, galactose and arabinose in a ratio of 0.675:0.265:0.023:0.016 and had a Mw of 4256 Da. The immunomodulatory activity and intestinal inflammation inhibitory effects of ALP were investigated in in vitro models, including lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage RAW264.7 and interleukin (IL)-1β-induced colon Caco-2 cells. The results revealed that ALP possessed both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 mRNA expression and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, ALP was found to have inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as inflammatory cytokines, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by down-regulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B signaling) pathway. It indicated that A. lappa L. was an ideal source of bioactive polysaccharides having potential to be developed as functional foods or nutraceuticals to improve immune system and prevent/treat intestinal inflammation.

Keywords: Arctium lappa L.; Burdock roots; Immunoregulation; Inflammation; Polysaccharides; TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Arctium*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • NF-kappa B* / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Polysaccharides
  • Cytokines
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • TLR4 protein, human