G1-4A, an immunomodulatory polysaccharide from Tinospora cordifolia, modulates macrophage responses and protects mice against lipopolysaccharide induced endotoxic shock.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines are known to be the mediators of endotoxic shock and several immunomodulatory herbs can modulate the expression of these cytokines. Therefore we have investigated the possibility of using an arabinogalactan polysaccharide, G1-4A, from the stem of Tinospora cordifolia, for protection against endotoxin induced sepsis. There was 100% protection against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced mortality in mice pretreated with G1-4A.