Screening and appraisal for immunological adjuvant-active fractions from Platycodon grandiflorum total saponins

In this study, the total saponins from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum (PGS_t) was subjected to D101 macroreticular resin column chromatography to afford four fractions (PGS₃₀, PGS₅₀, PGS₇₅ and PGS₉₅). PGS_t and its four fractions were evaluated and compared for the haemolytic activities and adjuvant potentials on the specific cellular and humoral immune responses of ICR mice against recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). PGS_t, PGS₃₀, PGS₅₀, PGS₇₅, and PGS₇₅ showed a slight haemolytic effect, with their concentration inducing 50% of the maximum haemolysis (HD₅₀) being 16.13?±?0.81, >200, 17.53?±?0.24, 20.16?±?0.76, 76.31?±?2.20?μg/mL against 0.5% rabbit red blood cell, respectively. PGS_t, PGS₅₀, and PGS₇₅ significantly not only enhanced the Con A-, lipopolysaccharide-, and HBsAg-induced splenocyte proliferation, but promoted the killing activities of natural killer (NK) cells from splenocytes in HBsAg-immunized mice (P?<?0.01 or P?<?0.001). HBsAg-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody levels in serum were also significantly enhanced by PGS_t, PGS₅₀, and PGS₇₅ compared with HBsAg control group (P?<?0.05, P?<?0.01, or P?<?0.001). Moreover, the adjuvant effects of PGS₅₀ and PGS₇₅ on the cellular immune responses and HBsAg-specific IgG2a and IgG2b antibody responses were more significant than those of Alum, PGS₃₀, and PGS₉₅. The results indicated that PGS₅₀ and PGS₇₅ could improve both cellular and humoral immune responses, and elicit a balanced Th1/Th2 response to HBsAg in mice, and that PGS₇₅ may be developed as an ideal candidate adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine.