THE ROLE OF A CRUDE POLYSACCHARIDE FRACTION IN THE MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION BY SHOSAIKOTA

Oral administration of Shosaikodo (1.4 g/kg) enhanced phagocytosis of casein-induced murine peritoneal macrophages and nitric oxide (NO) pro duction of thioglycilate broth-induced murine peritoneal macrophages. To clarify the kind of compounds are responsible for this augmentation of macrophage function, ethanol-precipitation was carried out to prod uce two fractions: one of ethanol-precipitates (EP) and one ethanol-so luble (ES). The EP fraction consisted of polysaccharide and showed enh ancement of phagocytosis and NO production comparable to Shosaikoto's. On the other hand, the ES fraction consisted of low molecular compoun ds and did not affect macrophage function. These results suggest a cru de polysaccharide fraction plays an important role in Shosaikoto's mac rophage activation.