Immunological activities of polysaccharide extracted from Elaeagnus angustifolia L.

The study was to investigate the immunological activities of polysaccharide isolated from Elaeagnus angustifolia L. The extracted Elaeagnus angustifolia L. polysaccharide (EAP) was purified by DEAE cellulose-52 chromatography (DEAE-52) and Sephadex G-100 size-exclusion chromatography (G-100). Then the average molecular weight (Mw) of purified polysaccharide was determined by high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). One main fraction (EAP-1a) was obtained through the isolation and purification steps. The results showed that EAP-1a had strong immunological activities. EAP-1a could significantly increase spleen and thymus index, enhance the NK cell activity, stimulate the phagocytosis of peritoneal phagocyte and increase the level of IL-2, IFN- and IgG in serum. Thus, EAP-1a isolated from Elaeagnus angustifolia L. could enhance the immunological activities of immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CY).