The Effect of α-pinene from Pinus densiflora S. and a Polysaccharide from Angelica gigas Nakai on Differentiation and Proliferation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

摘要

The leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), which is a very expensive reagent, can be used to efficiently control the differentiation of human embryonic stem (ES) cells at concentrations >1000?units/ml for 6–7?days. However, in supplement <500?units/ml, most ES cells differentiate within 3–4?days in in vitro cultures. α-Pinene from Pinus densiflora S. and a polysaccharide (MW 25?kDa) from A. gigas Nakai showed promising results as a substitute for LIF in cultivating ES cells. By adding both 0.5 (μg/ml) of α-pinene and the polysaccharide, most of the ES cells could be maintained under undifferentiated conditions after adding only 100?units/ml of LIF. It was found that α-pinene can play a role in preventing the ES cells from differentiating and the polysaccharide can be used to grow the ES cells. The results suggest that human ES cells can be maintained under undifferentiated conditions by supplementing both plant extracts, which can result in a reduction in the amount of LIF needed.