Immunological Effect of Water Soluble Polysaccharides of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum on Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Raw264.7 Cells

Abstract

Spices are known to possess several biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-tumour. Cinnamomum zeylanicumis one of the oldest spice used for its medicinal properties. Present study focusses on the immunological assessment of water soluble polysaccharides in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and RAW 264.7 cells. Water soluble polymeric substances obtained after performing Soxhlet extraction with four different solvents (hexane, dichloromethane, chloroform and methanol) was analysed for the presence of polysaccharides which confirmed the presence of sugar content. All four solvent extracts and the crude polymeric substance were subjected to the phytochemical screening for six different phytochemicals (alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, quinones and tannins). Absence of phytochemicals in water soluble polymeric substances lead to conclusion that the extracts are rich in polysaccharides. The resultant crude polysaccharides were purified by adding saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and fractionating with equal volume of ethyl acetate. The crude and purified polysaccharides were found to have cell growth inhibition effect on mouse leukaemia macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) with IC50 value 1120 ± 27 (crude) and 1780 ± 227 µg/mL (purified). In PBMC, the cell viability was found to be increase with increase in concentration for both ethyl acetate fraction and crude extract which is indicator of immune-stimulating activity. RAW cells were also assessed for the nitric oxide release and it was found that nitric oxide release was increased with concentration. The samples were assessed for IFN-Ƴ production and an increasing trend was observed with concentration. Further, the crude sample and ethyl acetate fraction was assessed for antioxidant activity and it was found that in contrast with ethyl acetate fraction, crude polysaccharides showed free radical scavenging activity. Hence, it was suggested that water soluble polysaccharides possess cytotoxic, immunostimulant and antioxidant effect.