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Two immunomodulatory polysaccharides (Vp2a-II and Vp3) were isolated and identified from Apocynum venetumL. flowers, and their innate immune-stimulating functions and working mechanisms were evaluated in RAW264.7 cells. Both the level of released nitric oxide (NO) and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA were significantly enhanced in the RAW264.7 macrophages cells treated by Vp2a-II and Vp3. Vp2a-II (100–800 µg/mL) and Vp3 (400 µg/mL) could significantly increase the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells and the secretion and mRNA expression of TNF-αand IL-6in a concentration-dependent manner through affecting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation. Vp2a-II might activate the MAPK signaling pathways and induce the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, whilst Vp3 likely activated the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways without influencing the p38 MAPK route.

The structure and moisture retention of Tremellapolysaccharide fermented from GCMCC5.39 (FTP) were evaluated. After UV, infrared spectrum analysis, HPAEC-PAD, HPSEC and 1 D NMR analysis, the composition of the purified FTP was determined. Purified components of fermented Tremellapolysaccharide (FTPS) was made of galactose, mannose, glucose, galactosmine, glucosamine, and contain a large amount of hydroxyl, carbonyl and amino groups. FTPS was α-neutral pyranose without uronic acid. FTPS-1 and FTPS-2 were obtained after purification by DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow Column. The molecular weights of FTPS-1 and FTPS-2 were 25 722 and 177 263Da. FTPS-2 had a better ability to prevent moisture loss, and the optimal moisture retention period was 0–4h. FTPS-2 could significantly increase the moisture content of the skin epidermis and showed a dose-concentration relationship. The effect of FTPS-2 on the expression of different moisturizing genes was evaluated in a human skin keratinocyte model. The results showed that FTPS-2 has no cytotoxicity, and could significantly promote AQP3, TGM1, CASP14, HYAL2, FLGgene expression level in HaCaT cells. It has the most significant influence at HYAL2 protein expression on 50μg/mL.

Ligustri lucidi Fructusis a traditional Chinese medicine and possesses various bioactivities, including hypoglycemic effect. Ligustrum lucidumAit flowers are poorly investigated. Thus, we hypothesized that L. lucidumflowers also could have hypoglycemic effect. Chemical composition and glucose uptake effect of L. lucidumflowers on 3T3-L1 adipocytes were investigated. In this study, the components of L. lucidumflowers were investigated by various chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and the effects of L. lucidumflowers on the induction of glucose uptake were investigated by 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Seven compounds were isolated and identified from L. lucidumflowers, including ursolic acid (1), kaempferol-7-O-α-l-rhamnoside (2, KR), β-sitosterol (3), β-daucosterol (4), kaempferitrin (5, KF), 10-hydroxy oleuropein (6, HO), and kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (7, KGR). The results of glucose uptake showed that total extract (TE), KR, KF and HO from L. lucidumflowers significantly enhanced glucose uptake. This study demonstrated that compounds 2, 5-7 were isolated for the first time from this plant and compounds 2 and 7 were isolated for the first time in genus Ligustrum, L. lucidumflowers, KR, KF and HO may possess potential hypoglycemic effect.