How Digestion and Size Affect the Immune Benefits of Goji Berry Extracts

Jenn Hoskins
30th June, 2024

How Digestion and Size Affect the Immune Benefits of Goji Berry Extracts

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by the Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China, explored how goji berry polysaccharides (LBPs) interact with the immune system
  • Medium-sized LBPs (100-300 kDa) showed the strongest ability to bind to immune receptors and boost immune signaling
  • The specific sugars in LBPs, like arabinose and galactose, enhance their immune-boosting effects
  • Even after digestion, LBPs still help the immune system, despite breaking down into smaller pieces
Lycium barbarum, commonly known as goji berry, has been a staple in traditional Chinese medicine due to its rich medicinal properties. Recent research conducted by the Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China, delves into the immunomodulatory effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) and their interactions with the TLR4/MD-2 complex, a critical component of the immune response[1]. This study provides new insights into how these polysaccharides function and their potential health benefits. The study focused on the interaction between LBPs and the TLR4/MD-2 complex, a receptor complex involved in the body's immune response. The researchers discovered that the molecular weight of LBPs significantly influences their binding affinity to TLR4/MD-2 and their ability to induce cytokine production, which are signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity. Medium-sized LBPs (100-300 kDa) demonstrated the strongest binding affinity and cytokine induction capability. In contrast, LBPs smaller than 10 kDa showed reduced activity. Furthermore, the study found that the content of arabinose and galactose within the LBP fractions positively correlated with both receptor affinity and cytokine secretion. This suggests that not just the size but also the specific monosaccharide composition of LBPs plays a crucial role in their immunomodulatory functions. An interesting aspect of the research was the impact of gastrointestinal digestion on LBPs. Simulated digestion resulted in the degradation of LBPs into smaller fragments rich in glucose. Although these smaller fragments exhibited decreased binding affinity to the TLR4/MD-2 complex, they maintained their activity to promote cytokine production. This indicates that even after digestion, LBPs can still exert beneficial immunomodulatory effects. This study builds on previous research highlighting the health benefits of LBPs. For instance, earlier studies have demonstrated the antioxidant properties of goji berries, which contain significant amounts of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and carotenoids[2]. These compounds contribute to the high nutritional and commercial value of goji berries. Additionally, other research has shown that LBPs have anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-aging effects, making them potential candidates for treating various diseases, including skin damage induced by particulate matter[3]. Moreover, LBPs have been identified as neuroprotective agents. A specific polysaccharide, LBP-3, isolated from Lycium barbarum, has shown potential in reducing levels of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease and improving retinal function in ischemic conditions[4][5]. These findings underscore the broad therapeutic potential of LBPs beyond their immunomodulatory effects. In summary, the research from the Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology provides valuable insights into the immunomodulatory mechanisms of LBPs and emphasizes the importance of molecular weight and monosaccharide composition. The study also highlights the resilience of LBPs' beneficial effects even after gastrointestinal digestion, paving the way for their practical application in enhancing immune responses. This work, combined with previous findings, reinforces the significant health benefits of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides and their potential role in modern medicine.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Impact of molecular weight and gastrointestinal digestion on the immunomodulatory effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides.

Published 27th June, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133500

Related Studies

2) Analytical profiling of selected antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity of goji (Lycium spp.) berries.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2017.05.048

3) Lycium Barbarum polysaccharide protects HaCaT cells from PM2.5-induced apoptosis via inhibiting oxidative stress, ER stress and autophagy.

https://doi.org/10.1080/13510002.2022.2036507

4) Structural characterization of a polysaccharide from Lycium barbarum and its neuroprotective effect against β-amyloid peptide neurotoxicity.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.016

5) Lycium barbarum polysaccharide extracts preserve retinal function and attenuate inner retinal neuronal damage in a mouse model of transient retinal ischaemia.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12950


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