In this study, we evaluated effect of glycyrrhizin on immunity function in allergic rhinitis (AR) mice. The AR mice model were induced by dripping ovalbumin in physiological saline (2 mg mL−1, 10 μL) into the bilateral nasal cavities using a micropipette. After the AR model was induced, mice were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control, model, lycopene 20 mg kg−1 (as positive control drug) group, and glycyrrhizin 10, 20, 30 mg kg−1 groups. After the sensitization day 14, lycopene (20 mg/kg BW) and glycyrrhizin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg BW) were given orally for 20 days once a day. Mice in the normal control and model groups were given saline orally once a day for 20 days. Results showed that glycyrrhizin treatment could dose-dependently significantly reduce blood immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitrous oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and nitrous oxide synthase (NOS) activity and enhance blood immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels in AR mice. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin treatment could dose-dependently significantly enhance acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity and reduce substance P (SP) level in peripheral blood and nasal mucosa of AR mice. We conclude that glycyrrhizin can improve immunity function in AR mice, suggesting a potential drug for the prevention and therapy of AR.

Oxidative stress is considered as a major risk factor that contributes to increased lipid peroxidation and declined antioxidants in some degenerative diseases. Glycyrrhizin is widely used to cure allergic diseases due to its medicinal properties. In the present study, we evaluated the role of glycyrrhizin on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in the blood and nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis (AR) mice. Mice were divided into six groups: normal control mice, model control (MC) mice, three glycyrrhizin-treated mice groups and lycopene-treated mice. Sensitization-associated increase in lipid peroxidation was observed in the blood and nasal mucosa of MC mice. Activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and levels of glutathione (GSH) were found to be significantly decreased in the blood and nasal mucosa in MC mice when compared to normal control mice. However, normalized lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defenses were reported in the glycyrrhizin-treated and lycopene-treated mice. Moreover, glycyrrhizin treatment still enhanced IFN-γ and reduced IL-4 levels in glycyrrhizin-treated mice. These findings demonstrated that glycyrrhizin treatment enhanced the antioxidant status and decreased the incidence of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation and improved immunity activities in the blood and nasal mucosa of AR mice.

In this study, we extracted polysaccharides from fern Lygodium japonicum and obtained purification polysaccharides by a DEAE-52 cellulose column (1.6×30cm). The antioxidant activity of the purification polysaccharides was evaluated by various antioxidant assay, including DPPH− radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, metal chelating activities, and inhibition against liposome peroxidation. Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as vitamin C. The results indicate that the purification polysaccharides showed strong antioxidant activity against liposome peroxidation, DPPH− radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and metal chelating activities. This antioxidant property increase with increased amount of sample. In addition, the purification polysaccharides were still determined as anti-microorganism equivalents. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the purification polysaccharides is a potential source of natural broad-spectrum anti-microorganism. Although, the tests presented here show the usefulness of purification polysaccharides as in vitro antioxidants and antibacterial agent, it still needs to be that this purification polysaccharides show their activity in biological systems, health implications or dry foods, which will be implemented in our later work.

Acanthopanax senticosus grows in many provinces in china and has long been used as a traditional medicine in china. This paper reports on the extraction of polysaccharides from A. senticosus and its effect of irradiation-protection. 15 Gy X-rays irradiation was delivered to rats. Polysaccharides from A. senticosus were administered before and after irradiation to examine its inhibition against irradiation-induced injury. Results indicate that in comparison with non-irradiated controls, irradiation of 15 Gy resulted in a significant reduction of rats’ body weight (BW), food and water intake, white cell counts (WC), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and increase of MDA level 10–20 days after being irradiated although after that these indexes start to slowly return to normal (p<0.05, p<0.01). Oral administration of polysaccharides from A. senticosus dose-dependently reduced the irradiation-induced injury on rats studied, showed a protective effect against irradiation-induced loss of BW, WC, food and water intake, reduce MDA level and raise antioxidase activity (SOD, GSH-Px) (p<0.05, p<0.01). It may be concluded that polysaccharides from A. senticosus possess good irradiation-protective effect.