Immunomodulatory activity of non starch polysaccharides isolated from green gram (Vigna radiata).

Green gram, rich in dietary fiber is known to enhance the function of immune system. However information
pertaining to the immunomodulatory potential of its non starch polysaccharides (NSPs) is scanty. Hence, five
different NSPs were extracted successively using water (WSP), hot water (55 o C, HWSP), EDTA (0.5%, Pectins)
and alkali (10%, Hemicellulose A and B) which varied in their arabinose to galactose ratio, sugar, protein, uronic
acid contents, molecular weight distribution and immunomodulatory activity. Hemicellulose B was relatively
rich in carbohydrate content (~95%) and also possessed potent immunomodulatory activity among the various
NSPs. Hemicellulose B was further fractionated on DEAE-cellulose column into six different fractions by eluting
step-wise with water, ammonium carbonate (0.1, 0.2, 0.3MAC) and sodium hydroxide (0.1 and 0.2M NaOH).
0.1MAC eluted fraction was found to be the major one amounting to ~ 50% yield and showed relatively
significant (p < 0.001) activity towards splenocyte proliferation and macrophage activation as compared with
rest of the DEAE eluted fractions.