The common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) pectic polysaccharides modulate phagocytic leukocytes and intestinal Peyer's patch cells.

Two pectic (chPS-L1, chPS-L2) and one polyphenolic (chPP-L) fractions were obtained from lavender flowers after boiling water extraction, exhaustive removing of alcohol-soluble molecules and SEC. chPS-L1 (52.4kDa) contains mainly low-acetylated and high-methoxylated homogalacturonans (HG), and smaller rhamnogalacturonan (RG) I backbone fragments rich in 1,3,5-branched arabinan and arabinogalactan (AG) II side chains. chPS-L2 (21.8kDa) contains predominantly similarly esterified HG, followed by RGI with AGII structures and RGII. The prevalence of catechin and epicatechin in chPP-L indicates that they form weak interactions with pectins. chPS-L1 and chPS-L2 enhanced ß2-integrin expression on neutrophils, inducing ROS generation and macrophage NO production. Both the effects on ß2-integrin and high complement fixation activity of chPS-L1 were proposed for its inhibitory action against PMA- and OZP-activated ROS formation. This, together with suppression of NO generation after co-stimulation with chPS-L1 and LPS, suggested anti-inflammatory activity of studied pectins. Lavender polysaccharides expressed intestinal Peyer's patch immunomodulating activity.