{"title":"Physicochemical characterization and immune activity of water-extract polysaccharides by stepwise ethanol precipitation from wild Cordyceps sinensis","authors":"Yong Li, Xingmao Yang, Wenjing Yang, Zhiying Bian, Jiawei Fang, Anhui Zhao, Xiuwen Bao, Shuqi Niu, Jing Bai, Yongjun Zheng, Sijing Liu, Jinlin Guo","doi":"10.1186/s40538-025-00866-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Cordyceps sinensis</i> is widely utilized in China as an edible and medicinal fungus for the treatment of immunodeficiency-related disorders. Evidence suggests that polysaccharides are the principal bioactive components responsible for its immunostimulatory effects. However, the physicochemical properties, bioactivities, and structure–function relationships of these polysaccharides remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, four distinct crude polysaccharides from wild <i>Cordyceps sinensis</i> (WCP) were isolated using stepwise ethanol precipitation at final concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% (v/v). These fractions were designated as WCP-20, WCP-40, WCP-60, and WCP-80, respectively. Results demonstrated that the molecular weight (MW) of WCP decreased as the ethanol concentration increased. High-MW fractions (WCP-20/-40) exhibited high glucose content, a partially triple-helical structure, levorotation (−), and greater thermal stability. In contrast, the low-MW fractions (WCP-60/-80) were enriched in galactose and mannose, exhibited a higher branching density, and dextrorotation ( +). Furthermore, this study revealed that WCPs activated macrophages by enhancing phagocytosis and stimulating the secretion of nitric oxide and interleukin-1 beta. These immunostimulatory effects were mediated through the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Specifically, WCP-20 triggered macrophage activation via the ERK/JNK/p65 pathway, with P38/ERK/JNK pathway for WCP-40, P38/ERK/JNK/p65 pathway for WCP-60, and JNK/p65 pathway for WCP-80. Correlation analysis revealed that the immunostimulatory effects of WCPs were closely linked to their monosaccharide composition and secondary structures. These findings established that the physicochemical properties of WCP were critical determinants of precise immune modulation. This study provided a foundational reference for developing precision polysaccharide-based immune-enhancing nutraceuticals.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\n<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://chembioagro.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40538-025-00866-z","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40538-025-00866-z","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cordyceps sinensis is widely utilized in China as an edible and medicinal fungus for the treatment of immunodeficiency-related disorders. Evidence suggests that polysaccharides are the principal bioactive components responsible for its immunostimulatory effects. However, the physicochemical properties, bioactivities, and structure–function relationships of these polysaccharides remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, four distinct crude polysaccharides from wild Cordyceps sinensis (WCP) were isolated using stepwise ethanol precipitation at final concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% (v/v). These fractions were designated as WCP-20, WCP-40, WCP-60, and WCP-80, respectively. Results demonstrated that the molecular weight (MW) of WCP decreased as the ethanol concentration increased. High-MW fractions (WCP-20/-40) exhibited high glucose content, a partially triple-helical structure, levorotation (−), and greater thermal stability. In contrast, the low-MW fractions (WCP-60/-80) were enriched in galactose and mannose, exhibited a higher branching density, and dextrorotation ( +). Furthermore, this study revealed that WCPs activated macrophages by enhancing phagocytosis and stimulating the secretion of nitric oxide and interleukin-1 beta. These immunostimulatory effects were mediated through the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Specifically, WCP-20 triggered macrophage activation via the ERK/JNK/p65 pathway, with P38/ERK/JNK pathway for WCP-40, P38/ERK/JNK/p65 pathway for WCP-60, and JNK/p65 pathway for WCP-80. Correlation analysis revealed that the immunostimulatory effects of WCPs were closely linked to their monosaccharide composition and secondary structures. These findings established that the physicochemical properties of WCP were critical determinants of precise immune modulation. This study provided a foundational reference for developing precision polysaccharide-based immune-enhancing nutraceuticals.
期刊介绍：
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed forum for the advancement and application to all fields of agriculture of modern chemical, biochemical and molecular technologies. The scope of this journal includes chemical and biochemical processes aimed to increase sustainable agricultural and food production, the evaluation of quality and origin of raw primary products and their transformation into foods and chemicals, as well as environmental monitoring and remediation. Of special interest are the effects of chemical and biochemical technologies, also at the nano and supramolecular scale, on the relationships between soil, plants, microorganisms and their environment, with the help of modern bioinformatics. Another special focus is the use of modern bioorganic and biological chemistry to develop new technologies for plant nutrition and bio-stimulation, advancement of biorefineries from biomasses, safe and traceable food products, carbon storage in soil and plants and restoration of contaminated soils to agriculture.
This journal presents the first opportunity to bring together researchers from a wide number of disciplines within the agricultural chemical and biological sciences, from both industry and academia. The principle aim of Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is to allow the exchange of the most advanced chemical and biochemical knowledge to develop technologies which address one of the most pressing challenges of our times - sustaining a growing world population.
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture publishes original research articles, short letters and invited reviews. Articles from scientists in industry, academia as well as private research institutes, non-governmental and environmental organizations are encouraged.
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