Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a polysaccharide from Eurotium cristatum.

By combining DEAE-cellulose-52 and Sepharose-CL-6B chromatography, a heteropolysaccharide ECIP-1A with an average molecular weight of 24,336 Da was isolated from the hyphae of Eurotium cristatum. The main components of the monosaccharides of ECIP-1A were mannose, glucose and galactose, and their molar ratio is 4.003: 0.592: 4.58. Analysis of the immunomodulatory activity showed that ECIP-1A could significantly promote the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells and induce the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) by RAW264.7 cells. The results therefore suggested that ECIP-1A, as an immunomodulator, may have potential application prospects in the food and pharmaceutical industries.