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.