Structural characterization and biological activities of SC4, an acidic polysaccharide from Salvia chinensis.

AIM: To study the chemical characterization and some biological activities of an
acidic polysaccharide, named SC4 from Salvia chinensis.
METHODS: Chemical and spectral methods were employed to identify the structural
characterization of SC4. Effect of SC4 on the proliferation of T- and
B-lymphocytes both in vivo and in vitro was measured at various concentrations,
and the protective effects of SC4 on PC12 cells against H2O2-induced injury was
observed.
RESULTS: SC4 was a highly branched polysaccharide with mean molecular weight of
4.5 10(5), composed of Rha, Xyl, Ser, Gal, and GalA in the molar ratio of 1.0 7.0
5.3 1.2 4.2. Methylation analysis and NMR identified the linkages of the residues
of SC4. SC4 increased the B-lymphocyte proliferation and spleen weight remarkably
while no obvious changes were examined in T-lymphocyte proliferation, thymus
weight, and the level of IgG and C3 in blood of mice. Moreover, SC4 enhanced the
PC12 cells viability after H2O2 treatment.
CONCLUSION: SC4, the acidic polysaccharide with complicated structure, was a
B-lymphocyte stimulator and protected PC12 cells at the concentration of 20 mg/L
against H2O2-induced injury.