Structural Characterization and Immunostimulatory Activity of a Homogeneous Polysaccharide from Sinonovacula constricta

Sinonovacula constricta has been widely used as a health food and medicine in China, Japan, and Korea. In the present study, a water-soluble polysaccharide fraction (SCP-1) was prepared from S. constricta by enzyme-assisted extraction and purification of chromatography with DEAE-52 cellulose anion-exchange column and Sephadex G-100 size exclusion column. On the basis of the analytical results of high-performance liquid chromatography, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and NMR spectroscopy, SCP-1 was found to have an average molecular weight of 15.63 kDa and a linear backbone of (1→4)-linked α-D-Glcp residue with one branch, α-D-Glcp, attached to the main chain by a (1→6) glycosidic bond at every five α-D-Glcp units. Furthermore, it was found that SCP-1 could significantly increase the viability of macrophages, enhance the capability of macrophage phagocytosis, increase the activity of acid phosphatase, and promote the production of nitric oxide, mouse tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, mouse interferon (IFN)-γ, and mouse interleukin (IL)-1β. The results suggest that SCP-1 possesses potent immunomodulating effect and may be explored as a potential biological response modifier.