Study of polysaccharides isolated from the oleo-gum-resins of boswellia carteri and commiphora myrrh and their immuno¬modulatory activity

Abstract EN

Objectives : the present study aims to isolate the polysaccharides of the oleo-gum-resins of Boswell a carter and Commiphora myrrh a Family Burseraceae, identify their components and test their immune-modulatory activity for the first time.

Methods : the polysaccharides were isolated from the oleo-gum-resins of Boswell a carter and Commiphora myrrh a using different chemical and chromatographic techniques.

The components of the polysaccharide hydro lysates are estimated qualitatively and quantitatively by using PC and HPLC analysis.

The immune-modulatory activity is tested by splenocyte and mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation methods.

Results : the percentage yield of the isolated polysaccharide was 15.4% and 15.7% from Boswell a carter and Commiphora myrrh a oleo-gum-resins respectively.

GA lactose and ribose are the major constituting units of the polysaccharide isolated from Boswell a carter oleo-gum-resin whereas ribose and galacturonic acid are the major constituting units of the polysaccharide isolated from Commiphora myrrh a oleo-gum-resin.

The polysaccharide of B.

carter oleo-gum-resin showed mild immune-stimulatory activity at a dose of 5ug / ml, while that of C.

myrrh a oleo-gum-resin showed no activity at this dose.

Conclusions : chromatographic investigation of the polysaccharides isolated from Boswell a carter and Commiphora myrrh a oleo-gum-resins by PC and HPLC analysis demonstrated their qualitative and quantitative variation in their chemical composition.

Higher concentrations of the polysaccharides could be tested for immune-modulatory activity.