Effect of simulated gastrointestinal digest of aqueous extract of velvet antler on murine splenocytes proliferation

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fractions from simulated gastrointestinal digest of aqueous extract of velvet antler (AEVA-SGD) on murine splenocytes proliferation. AEVA-SGD was fractionated by gel chromatography and RP-HPLC consecutively. The effect of each fraction on the proliferation of murine splenocytes was detected by WST-8. The effective fractions were preliminary identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. The results showed that AEVA-SGD was separated into six fractions (A^F) by Sephadex LH-20. Fraction F (Fr. F) stimulated the proliferation of resting murine splenocytes, whereas inhibited the proliferation of ConA-stimulated murine splenocytes. The effect of Fr. F on the proliferation of murine splenocytes was more effective than the other fractions. After separation by RP-HPLC, Fr. F was fractionated into three parts. The main components of each part were preliminary identified as:guanine (Fr.F1) , 1-methylguanine and xanthine (Fr. F2) , a mixture of small peptides (Fr. F3) . Compared with Fr. F1 and Fr. F2, the effect of Fr. F3 on the proliferation of murine splenocyte was more effective. The total effect of Fr. F on the proliferation of murine splenocyte was due to the synergistic effects of its fractions.