Immunoactivity of the crude polysaccharides from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L.

In order to further separate and purify the polysaccharides from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L. and study its immunopharmacological activity, the immune activity of the crude Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) was studied with the methods such as [ 3H]TdR incorporation, plaque forming cell (PFC) assays and measurement of specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)activity. It was showed that LBP (ig) not only promoted splenocyte proliferation, but also increased the number of PFC of LACA mice splenocytes, but the specific CTL killer cell activity against P815 tumor cells had no obvious changes. Furthermore, the enhancing effect of LBP on antibody production response and IgG production by splenocytes in senescence accelerated mouse (SAMP8) was also found in this study. These results suggested that LBP be an important active components from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L., and its immuno promoting or immuno improving effect on humoral immunity be one of the major action on immune system.