Based on previous studies about microflora regulation and immunity enhancement activities of polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen (CPP), there is little study on intestinal mucosal immunity, which is a possible medium for contacting microflora and immunity. In the present study, the BALB/c mice were divided into five groups (eight mice in each group), including a normal group (Con), a model control group (Model), and model groups that were administered CPP (50, 100, 200 mg/kg/d) orally each day for seven days after intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg BW/d cyclophosphamide (CP) for three days. CPP recovered the spleen index and restored the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, as well as serum IgG. In addition, it elevated ileum secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), the number of Lactobacillus and acetic acid content in cecum. These results indicated that CPP plays an important role in the protection against immunosuppression, especially mucosa immune damage, and the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria colonization, which could be considered a potential natural source of immunoregulator.

The inulin-type fructan was obtained by DEAE anion exchange chromatography from C. pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen, after optimized extract condition, which was established by response surface methodology, designed using Box-Behnken factorial design and the optimum condition were: extracting 2.5 h with ratio of solvent to material 40 mL/g at 100 °C, twice. The maximum extraction yield was 20.6 ± 0.2%. It was confirmed as β-(2-1) linkage fructan, with terminal glucose, and with a degree of polymerization of 2-17 (DP = 6), shown by the results of methanolysis, methylation, nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular weight determination. The prebiotic activity was proven on account of stimulation effect on Lactobacillus and pH reduction of medium in vitro. The results indicated that the inulin from C. pilosula could be used as a potential natural source of prebiotics.

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Platycodon grandiflorus is a plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, of which polysaccharides are reported to be the main components responsible for its bio-functions. In this work, the inulin-type fructan (PGF) was obtained by DEAE anion exchange chromatography from the water extracted from P. grandifloras. Characterization was performed with methanolysis, methylation, and NMR and the results showed that PGF is a β-(2-1) linked fructan, with terminal glucose and with a degree of polymerization of 2–10. In order to study its biofunctions, the prebiotic and immunomodulation properties were assayed. We found that PGF exhibited good prebiotic activity, as shown by a promotion on six strains of lactobacillus proliferation. Additionally, the PGF also displayed direct immunomodulation on intestinal epithelial cells and stimulated the expressions of anti-inflammatory factors. These results indicated that the inulin from P. grandiflorus is a potential natural source of prebiotics as well as a potential intestinal immunomodulator, which will be valuable for further studies and new applications.

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