Exopolysaccharides from a Codonopsis pilosula endophyte activate macrophages and inhibit cancer cell proliferation and migration

BACKGROUND: Exopolysaccharides with structural diversity have shown wide applications in biomaterial, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Herein, we isolated an endophytic strain, 14‐DS‐1, from the traditional medicinal plant Codonopsis pilosula to elucidate the characteristics and anti‐cancer activities of purified exopolysaccharides. METHODS: HPLC and GC‐MS were conducted to purify and characterize the exopolysaccharides isolated from 14‐DS‐1. Quantitative RT‐PCR, cell migration assays, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to investighate the biological activity of DSPS. RESULTS: We demonstrated that exopolysaccharides isolated from 14‐DS‐1 (DSPS), which were predominately composed of six monosaccharides, showed anti‐cancer activities. Biological activity analysis revealed that exposure to DSPS induced macrophage activation and polarization by promoting the production of TNF‐α and nitric oxide. Further analysis revealed that DSPS treatment promoted macrophage infiltration, whereas cancer cell migration was suppressed. In addition, DSPS exposure led to S‐phase arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that treatment with DSPS resulted in defects in spindle orientation and positioning. CONCLUSION: These findings thus suggest that DSPS may have promising potential in cancer therapy.