Immunostimulatory properties of coffee mannans.

Coffee infusion mannans are acetylated polysaccharides containing single Galp and Araf residues as side chains of a beta-(1 --> 4)-Manp backbone. These mannans are structurally similar to the bioactive acetylated mannans from Aloe vera (AV). In this study, acetylated mannans were obtained from two coffee infusions prepared from light and dark roasted beans. These samples were tested for their immunostimulatory activity and compared with an extract of AV mannan and with locust bean gum (LBG) galactomannans. The coffee samples, as well as the AV extract, stimulated murine B- and T-lymphocytes, as evaluated by the in vitro expression of the surface lymphocyte activation marker CD69, more marked on B- than on T-lymphocytes. In coffee samples, contrarily to the AV, no proliferative effect was noticed. LBG sample did not show any immunostimulatory activity. Because the material that remains in the residue of the hot water extraction was still very rich in mannans, a sequential extraction was performed and a main fraction was recovered with a 4 M NaOH solution. Because this material was insoluble in water, a partial acetylation was performed. These polysaccharides also showed immunostimulatory activity, opening the possibility of exploitation of coffee infusion and coffee residue as sources of bioactive polysaccharides.