Study on extraction of polysaccharides from Scutellaria barbata and their immunomodulation

Objective: To optimize the extraction process of the polysaccharides in the herb of Scutellaria barbata D.Don and study on immunomodulation of the polysaccharides in vitro.Methods: The content of polysaccharide of the Scutellaria barbata D.Don was determined by Phenol-sulfuric acid method.The orthogonal experiment design method was applied to analyze the influence of each factor in temperature,time,the number of extraction and solid-liquid ratio on the extraction percent of the polysaccharides.The yield of polysaccharides were regarded as the examine targets.The model of mice was established with cyclophosphamide treated.The function of macrophage in abdominal activity was measured.Sectrophotometric determination was adopted to evaluate the ability of antibody producing cell. Results: The optimum extraction process was as follows: soaking the polysaccharides of Scutellaria barbata D.Don with water at 100℃ for 3 times(3 hours per time) and adding 14 times water.The yield and content of polysaccharides were 1.46% and 53.25% respectively.The effects of polysaccharides in Scutellaria barbata D.Don towards normal rats on the function of macrophage cell in abdominal cavity were not observed.The polysaccharides in Scutellaria barbata D.Don at a high concentration(300 mg/kg) can significantly enhance the content of haemolysin in mice body. Conclusion: The optimal process was applicable to the extraction of polysaccharides from Scutellaria barbata D.Don.The polysaccharide in Scutellaria barbata D.Don can accelerate the recovery of immune function of immunodepression mice.