A Low‐Molecular‐Weight Polysaccharide From <i>Cremastra Appendiculata</i> : Extraction, Structural Characterization, and Anti‐HCC Activity

The medicinal benefits of Cremastra appendiculata include antipyretic effects, detoxification, the elimination of phlegm and masses, and it is extensively used for the treatment of various cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms for the antitumor effects of C. appendiculata polysaccharide (CAP; one of the primary substances of its water-soluble components) remain unknown. This study involved CAP preparation and characterization as well as the investigation of its anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activities. Structural analysis revealed that CAP (Mw = 8,058 Da) is a linear glucomannan that is composed of → 4) -β-D-Glcp- (1 → 4) -β-D-Manp- (1 →. In an anti-HCC trial, the use of the CAP-mediated mediated macrophage-conditioned medium significantly inhibited Hepa1-6 cell migration and proliferation. CAP inhibits tumor growth in mice, and at high-doses, mitigated 5-fluorouracil-induce immune-organ damage. CAP enhances the immune-organ index of mice, increased the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ, and improve their immune functions, whereby it indirectly eliminated tumors. This study provides theoretical and experimental evidence in support of the use of CAP for the treatment of HCC and thereby promotes the development of natural polysaccharides from traditional medicines.