Toxicological and immunomodulatory assessments of botryosphaeran (β-glucan) produced by Botryosphaeria rhodina RCYU 30101

Toxicological and immunomodulatory activities of botryosphaeran (BR), a newly emerged β-glucan that comprises a β-(1→3) backbone and β-(1→6) branched glucose residues were assessed. BR was 1.82 × 106 Da (M.W.) estimated by reversely-linear equation constructed by regression of logarithms of standard polysaccharides and their retention times of gel permeation chromatography. Sprague–Dawley rats were daily gavage-administered with BR at doses of 0, 1.25, 12.5, and 125 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 28 d. Serum hematological and biochemical analysis of all treatment were all within normal ranges. Mitogen-stimulated lymphoblastogenesis of spleno-lymphocytes was enhanced by BR at doses of 1.25 and 12.5 mg/kg BW. Through in vitro comparative assessments, RAW 264.7 macrophage (RAW) cells were treated with BR and two commercial β-glucans, zymosan (ZY) and barley β-glucan (GB), to characterize their relative immunomodulatory properties. All three β-glucans stimulated phagocytosis on fluorescence-labeled Escherichia coli. At dose levels from 5 to 200 μg/mL for 24 h, nitric oxide produced by BR- and ZY-treated cells were higher than those produced by GB-treated and control groups. BR, ZY but GB also stimulated RAW cells in producing TNF-α. The results demonstrate that BR is toxicologically accepted and features as a potent immunomodulator.