Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a mannan from Helvella leucopus

A new polysaccharide fraction HLP-1 (2.55 × 10⁵ Da) was obtained from the fruiting bodies of Helvella leucopus. Structural characterization of HLP-1 was elucidated by infrared spectroscopy, monosaccharide composition analysis, methylation analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Congo red assay. HLP-1 was a mannan with a backbone of →6)-α-D-Manp(1 → 4)- α-D-Manp(1 →6)-α-D-Manp(1 → 3)-α-D-Manp(1 → 4)-α-D-Manp(1 → 3)-α-D-Manp(1→, which branched at the O-6 position and terminated with T-β-D-Manp. Moreover, HLP-1 could significantly improve the proliferation and neutral red phagocytosis of RAW264.7. Besides, HLP-1 could stimulate the production of nitric oxide (NO), ROS, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). HLP-1 induced macrophage activation via NF-κB signal pathway. These findings indicated that HLP-1 was a potential immune enhancement agent applied in functional foods.