Structural Characterization of APSN from <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> and Its Potential Therapeutic Effect on Immune Dysregulation and Tissue Damage
Liqiu Hu, Qili Sun, Zhanpeng Liu, Hanwei Huang, Enze Zhao, Haotian Chen, Yong Wu, Yongmei Ge, Dongfang Ouyang, Bin Tang
Abstract
Addressing the global health impact of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, this study focused on purifying and characterizing a neutral polysaccharide, APSN, from the Astragalus membranaceus . Employing high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we elucidated APSN’s structural features, revealing a highly branched glucan with a 1,4-α- d -glucopyranosyl main chain and side chains at the O-6 position. Separately, we assessed APSN’s biological activity, finding that it significantly modulates immune responses by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway in RAW264.7 macrophages and promotes endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis-related gene expression in HUVECs. These results position APSN as a potential therapeutic for diseases characterized by immune dysregulation and tissue damage, warranting further investigation of its mechanisms and clinical efficacy.