Immunomodulatory Activity of the Glycoprotein Isolated from the Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb)

Abstract

The yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb) is a well-known edible food and widely used as the traditional Chinese medicine. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of glycoprotein (DOT) from yam and explore its possible molecular mechanisms. Results showed that the DOT could improve the cell immunity, humoral immunity and phagocytic system function of the normal mice. The DOT could also increase the production of TNF-α, interleukin-6 and nitric oxide and enhance the pinocytosis function of macrophages. Furthermore, the DOT increased phosphor-p38, JNK, ERK1/2 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 protein expression in peritoneal macrophages. Taken together, our data suggest that DOT could be used as a potential immunostimulant and exert its immunomodulatory activity via mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-κB signal pathways. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Compound polysaccharides ameliorate experimental colitis by modulating gut microbiota composition and function

“…There have been several reports about the anti‐inflammatory ability of polysaccharides, like Lentinula edodes and Ginkgo biloba . And strikingly, most researches proposed the essential role of the immune system in the anti‐inflammatory process including Dioscorea opposita . Severe inflammatory symptoms were below detection after CP treatment such as inflammatory cell infiltration, which indicated the possibility of its impact on the immune cells in the colon.…”

Clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine treatment for bacterial vaginosis

“…For example, Niu and colleagues evaluated the effects of immune regulation of glycoprotein extracted from Rhizoma Dioscoreae in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that the glycoprotein significantly increased the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) and simultaneously promoted the pinocytosis activity of macrophages which are important in inherent immunity (Niu et al, 2017).…”

“…For example, Niu and colleagues evaluated the effects of immune regulation of glycoprotein extracted from Rhizoma Dioscoreae in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that the glycoprotein significantly increased the serum level of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and nitric oxide (NO) and simultaneously promoted the pinocytosis activity of macrophages which are important in inherent immunity (Niu et al, 2017). Besides glycoprotein, peptides and polysaccharides extracted from Rhizoma Dioscoreae were also found to have strong abilities to modulate immune function by invigorating spleen, which was manifested by enhancing immune organs index, improving the pathology of the spleen, and increasing the level of immune active substances, including IL‐1α, IL‐6, interferone‐γ (IFN‐γ), immune globulin‐G (IgG), and IgM (Hao & Zhao, 2015).…”

Analysis of the N-Glycoforms and Immunoactivity of Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) Glycoprotein 30CYGP

“…(Chinese yam) is a common species and primarily contains 30 kD Class A dioscorin. 5 In recent years, researchers have reported that dioscorin derived from different species of yam displays similar biological activities (anticancer, antioxidant, carbonic anhydrase, trypsin inhibitor, and antiallergenic), 6−9 but their immunomodulatory activities differ. For example, dioscorins from Dioscorea alata stimulated the phagocytic activity of lymphoid cells more effectively than dioscorins from Dioscorea japonica, whereas D. japonica dioscorins enhanced the proliferation of lymphoid cells more effectively than D. alata dioscorins.…”

“…dioscorins improved macrophage phagocytic function, stimulated macrophage NO secretion, enhanced immunity, and stimulated proinflammatory cytokine expression in a mouse model. 5 In addition, D. opposita Thunb. increased the expressions of p38, JNK, ERK1/2, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 proteins in RAW264.1 macrophages.…”