Study of the Immunomodulatory Effect of Polysaccharides Isolated from Seeds of Turnip BRASSICA RAPA

The goal of this study was an evaluation of the immunomodulatory effect of polysaccharides isolated from the seeds of Brassica rapa. Apolysaccharide (BRP) consisting mainly of α-linked pyranose residues belonging to the arabinogalactan class was obtained. The number of antibody-forming cells (AFCs) per spleen increased to 9,160 ± 1477.06, 12,000 ± 3480.33, and 19,080 ± 12,391.6 [antibody-forming reaction index (ARI) = 1, 5, 2, and 3.2 times, respectively] in experimental mice treated with BRP at a dose of 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/kg, respectively. The number of AFCs was 70.8 ± 8.05, 73.17 ± 20.5, and 120.3 ± 83.7, respectively, when converted to one million spleen cells. Under the effect of BRP at all studied doses (0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/kg), a dose-dependent decrease in the index of response to inflammation was observed and a significant trend toward a decrease in the development of hypersensitivity reactions of the delayed type was revealed, especially at doses of 0.5 and 5 mg/kg, as compared to a reference drug (Immunal) administered at a dose of 60 mg/kg. The results suggested that B. rapa polysaccharides had a stimulating effect on the humoral and cellular immune response.