Relationship of the inhibition of cell migration with the structure of ginseng pectic polysaccharides

In this paper, ginseng pectin (WGPA) was fractionated and two new fractions were characterised. Nine fractions, including seven characterised in our previous paper, were tested for their effects on cell migration. The HG-domain rich pectins caused significant inhibition on cell migration. The order of the inhibitory effects is WGPA-1-HG < -2-HG < -3-HG < -4-HG. At 0.015 mg/ml, WGPA-3-HG significantly inhibited L-929 cell migration. WGPA-3-RG and -4-RG, containing both HG- and RG-I-domains, showed a slightly stronger inhibition than the HG-domain rich fractions. WGPA-N, WGPA-1-RG and -2-RG, containing no, trace or minor HG and RG-I domains, showed less effects on cell migration. The inhibitory effect of ginseng pectic polysaccharides was related to GalA content (HG domain) and Rha content (RG-I domain). The effect is probably mediated through decreasing cell adhesion and cell spreading.