The Effects Of Polysaccharides Of Paris Polyphylla On Immune Function And Antioxidant Capacities Of Mice In Aging Mouse Model

Paris polyphylla is a traditional Chinese medicine and a perennial herb that belongs to Liliaceae genus Paris. Paris polyphylla could improve immunity, antioxidant and anti-bacteria capacity of human and animals in earlier publications. However, most of the earlier studies were mainly focus on the anti-tumor and immune-regulation of Paris polyphylla saponin and sterol. Therefore the present study is aimed to investigate the effects of polysaccharides of Paris polyphylla (PPLPs) on immune function and antioxidant capacities in mice using D-galactose-induced aging mouse model. The results from the present study will add data to the field of Paris polyphylla, meanwhile, will also provide scientific basis for the development of novel and effective immune enhancer and nature antioxidant.Forty C57BL/6J mice aged 7 to 8 weeks were selected and randomly divided into four groups (group I, II, Ⅲ and IV, respectively) of 10 animals per treatment as described below. Mice in Group I were daily injected with 0.2 mL normal saline as Normal group; Mice in group II were daily injected with 0.2 mL D-galactose and gavaged 0.25 mL 120 mg/(kg-d) normal saline as Model group; Mice in group III were daily injected with 0.2 mL D-galactose and gavaged 0.25 mL 120 mg/(kg-d) Vc as Vc group; Mice in group IV were daily injected with 0.2 mL D-galactose and gavaged 0.25 mL 120 mg/(kg-d) PPLPs as PPLPs group. All mice were slaughtered and the spleens were collected after 42 days of treatment. The spleen index, the expression of immune and antioxidant related genes, the enzyme activities, MDA contents and scavenging capacity of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical were measured. The main results were obtained as follows:1. Establishment of aging mice model:Mice of Normal group are active and in good condition, the fur are sheeny and the skin are full of elasticity. In contrast, mice of Model group are not in good condition, the skin are flabby and the fur are pale. Compared to Model group, mice in PPLPs group are much better referring to the health condition, the sheen of fur and the elasticity of skin, which are similar to that of Normal group. Results indicated the aging model had been successfully established.2. The spleen index:Compared with the Model group, the spleen index of PPLPs group were significantly improved, which was similar to that of Vc group(P>0.05).3. The expression of immune function related genes:Compared with the Model group, the mRNA expression levels of immune function related genes (GATA,T-bet, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-y and TNF-α) are significantly increased in PPLPs group (P<0.05), while the expression levels of immune function related genes between PPLPs and Vc group showed no significant difference(P>0.05).4. The expression of antioxidant related genes:the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant related genes(CuZn-SOD、Mn-SOD、CAT、GSH-Px、Trx1 and Trx2) are significantly increased in PPLPs group when compared with the Model group (P<0.05). The expression of antioxidant related genes between PPLPs and Vc group showed no significant difference(.P>0.05).5. The enzyme activities, MDA content and scavenging capacity of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical:Compared with Model group, the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), CuZn superoxide dismutase(CuZn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), catalase(CAT), the scavenging capacity of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical increased and the MDA concentrations were significantly decreased in PPLPs (P<0.05).The results demonstrated that PPLPs could enhance the immune function and improve the antioxidant capacities of mice.