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Pectic Polysaccharides Isolated from Malian Medicinal Plants Protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae in a Mouse Pneumococcal Infection Model
Author(s) -
Inngjerdingen K. T.,
Langerud B. K.,
Rasmussen H.,
Olsen T. K.,
Austarheim I.,
Grønhaug T. E.,
Aaberge I. S.,
Diallo D.,
Paulsen B. S.,
Michaelsen T. E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/sji.12047
Subject(s) - streptococcus pneumoniae , polysaccharide , microbiology and biotechnology , serotype , immune system , biology , chemokine , pneumococcal pneumonia , innate immune system , immunology , biochemistry , antibiotics
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pectic polysaccharides BP ‐ II , Oc50A1.I.A and CC 1P1 isolated from the Malian medicinal plants B iophytum petersianum , O pilia celtidifolia and C ola cordifolia , respectively, were able to protect against S treptococcus pneumoniae infection in mice. The pectin preparations were administered intraperitoneally 3 h before challenge with S . pneumoniae serotype 6B. Blood samples were obtained from all animals before and at 3 h, 24 h and 72 h after challenge with the pneumococci. The number of bacteria in blood was recorded and the blood concentration of a range of cytokines measured. The pretreatment with BP ‐ II , Oc50A1.I.A and CC 1P1 demonstrated a protective activity against S . pneumoniae serotype 6B infection, albeit at different range of concentrations. The pectins showed no direct antibacterial effects towards S . pneumonia ; however, they induced the production of a range of cytokines and chemokines. We have previously shown that BP ‐ II , Oc50A1.I.A and CC 1P1 exhibit complement fixation activity and also that BP ‐ II and Oc50A1.I.A stimulate macrophages to produce NO . The observed clinical effect might therefore be linked to the ability of the pectic polysaccharides to stimulate the innate immune system.