The immune adjuvant response of polysaccharides from Atractylodis macrocephalae Koidz in chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND)

Abstract Build on our previous research, polysaccharides from the rhizome of Atractylodis macrocephalae Koidz (RAMPS), RAMPS tp and RAMPS 60c were prepared and the structural characterization and immune response of ND vaccine in chicken were investigated. Immune organ index, Lymphocyte proliferation, antibody titers, cell cycle distribution, and percentages of CD4 + and CD8 + cells were determined. GPC analysis showed that the M n of RAMPS with two peaks were 1.29 × 10 5 and 1.74 × 10 3 , respectively. GC–MS analysis revealed that RAMPS was composed of glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, d -Ribose and rhamnose, with mass percentages of 66.39%, 21.24%, 5.64%, 2.65%, 2.30%, 1.15% and 0.64%, respectively. NMR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that a preliminary structure of RAMPS was proposed as 1,3-linked β- d -Galp and 1,6-linked β- d -Galpresidues. In vivo test showed that RAMPS tp and RAMPS 60c could promote peripheral lymphocytes proliferation and entering into S and G2/M phases, enhance serum HI antibody titer and effectively improve the percentages of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in chickens vaccinated with ND vaccine at most time points. The actions of RAMPS tp and RAMPS 60c were stronger than that of Lev, and RAMPS tp presented the best efficacy. These results indicated that RAMPS tp and RAMPS 60c characterize of the immune-enhancing activity and RAMPS tp possessed the strongest activity. It would be anticipated as a component of new-type immunopotentiator.