Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) galactomannan fractions on phagocytosis in rat macrophages and on proliferation and IgM secretion in HB4C5 cells

Fenugreek galactomannan rich fractions were tested for activation of phagocytosis in rat peritoneal macrophages, proliferation and IgM secretion in human–human hybridoma, HB4C5 cells. Alkali extracted polysaccharide B fraction showed 40% activation of phagocytosis in rat peritoneal macrophages at 10 μg/ml concentration. Fraction 1 of this extract showed an activity of 31.4% at 1 μg/ml in 1 h. In HB4C5 cells, growth promotion activities (%) expressed by alkali extracted polysaccharide B, Fraction 1 and Fraction 2 were 2.7 (at 5 μg/ml), 5.7 (at 2.5 μg/ml) and 5.6 (at 5 μg/ml), respectively. Effect on IgM secretion by alkali extracted polysaccharide B was more inhibitory with an inhibition of 24.0% at 2.5 μg/ml. Fraction 1 showed an activation of 9.8% at 5 μg/ml. At 2.5 μg/ml, it expressed an inhibition of 2.5%. Fraction 2 also expressed an inhibition of 24.7% at 2.5 μg/ml.