Investigation on prescription screening of a polyherbal preparation based on splenocyte proliferation activity and its preparation method

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Objective: The present study aims to optimize the extraction conditions of polysaccharides and flavonoids from a polyherbal preparation consisting of three kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs, Codonopsis pilosula, Crataegus pinnatifida, and Lycium barbarum, and evaluation of its immunomodulatory activity in immunosuppressed mice. Materials and Methods: An orthogonal design (L9 [3]4) was constructed to achieve the optimal extraction conditions. The immunomodulatory action of the polyherbal preparation was studied at three doses of 10, 20, and 40 mL/kg/day orally by measuring splenocyte proliferation in mice model of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression. Results: The chosen parameters, including the ratio of solvent-to-raw material, duration of extraction, and extraction times, were the fundamental variables that influenced the extract yields. The highest yield of total polysaccharides content was 54.3 mg/mL when the ratio of solvent-to-raw material, duration of extraction, and number of extractions were 12:1, 1.5 h, and 3, respectively. The maximum extraction yield of the flavonoids was 3.5 mg/mL when the ratio of solvent-to-raw material was 12:1, the extraction time was 2 h, and the number of extractions was 3. The prescription screening showed that the impact of the polyherbal preparation on the splenocyte proliferation capacity was more pronounced than its disassembled components. Oral administration of the polyherbal preparation could significantly increase the concanavalin A-stimulated mouse spleen cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the polyherbal preparation possesses potential for augmenting the immune activity due to the polysaccharide and flavonoid content in these herbal medicines.