Ginkgo biloba sarcotesta polysaccharide inhibits inflammatory responses through suppressing both NF‐κB and MAPK signaling pathway

Abstract BACKGROUND Polysaccharides, common components of natural products extensively studied as dietary supplements and functional foods, have been found to have various activities. In the present study, a water‐soluble polysaccharide, namely GBSP3a, was isolated and purified from G. biloba sarcotesta. The anti‐inflammatory activity of GBSP3a in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW264.7 macrophages and the potential underlying molecular mechanisms were then assessed. RESULTS GBSP3a exerted its anti‐inflammatory effect by remarkably inhibiting the secretion of pro‐inflammatory mediators and cytokines, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Excessive mRNA and protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) were dose‐dependently inhibited by GBSP3a in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Further research suggested that the anti‐inflammatory effect of GBSP3a can be attributed to the modulation of the NF‐κB and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSION GBSP3a exhibits anti‐inflammatory activity and exerts its anti‐inflammatory effect probably through suppressing both NF‐κB and MAPK signaling pathway, indicating that GBSP3a could be used for the development of anti‐inflammatory agent or nutraceuticals. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry