Isolation, partial characterisation and immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharide from Morchella esculenta

BACKGROUND: Polysaccharides extracted from fungi or algae have shown a variety of medical activities, and the exploitation of polysaccharides for application in pharmacy has been very promising. In this study, the immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta were investigated to identify immunostimulatory activity and potentially contribute to the therapeutic potential of Morchella esculenta. RESULTS: A water-soluble polysaccharide, MEP, was obtained from the fermentation broth of Morchella esculenta. Two fractions of this polysaccharide (MEP-I and MEP-II) were extracted and purified. High-performance gel permeation chromatography analysis showed the average molecular weights of two polysaccharides. Structural properties and compositions of these two fractions were examined by Fourier transform infrared and a high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector. Active experiments suggested that the MEP had typical immunostimulatory activity. CONCLUSION: These bioactivity tests showed that the polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta presented significant immune modulating activity, and this finding may offer the basis for the popular use of polysaccharides in functional foods o rmedicine. (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry