Selenylated plant polysaccharides: A survey of their chemical and pharmacological properties Author Fiorito, Serena Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università “ G. d’Annunzio ” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy & Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via del Liceo, 06123, Perugia, Italy Author Epifano, Francesco Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università “ G. d’Annunzio ” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy fepifano@unich.it Author Preziuso, Francesca Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università “ G. d’Annunzio ” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy Author Taddeo, Vito Alessandro Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università “ G. d’Annunzio ” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy Author Genovese, Salvatore Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università “ G. d’Annunzio ” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti Scalo, CH, Italy text Phytochemistry 2018 2018-09-30 153 1 10 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.05.008 journal article 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.05.008 1873-3700 10483984 5.11.1. Lilium spp The term “Lily” indicates a mixture of dry leaves of three species belonging to the Liliaceae family: Lilium lancifolium Thunb., L. brownii var. viridulum Baker , and L. pumilum Delile. This phytopreparation is part of the Chinese herbal medicine tradition and used as an immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic remedy. In 2016 Hou and coworkers synthesized a library of 9 samples with Se content ranging from 11.77 mg /g to 39.8 mg /g and yields from 22.6% to 41.3%. All samples were then assayed for their capacity to enhance the immune response recording the extent of chicken peripheral lymphocytes proliferation applying doses ranging from 0.391 μg/mL to 6.25 μg/mL. The observed increase of this parameter was however modest (+15%) although higher than the native polysaccharide. The best effect was shown by the Se-P with the highest content of Se and then the same was selected to perform in vivo studies using 14-days old White Roman chickens vaccinated with ND vaccine. The biochemical parameters measured were peripheral lymphocytes proliferation, serum antibody titer, and production of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ. The dose applied was 2 mg /kg administered i.m. for 3 days. Recordings were made every week along a period of 4 weeks. Se-P provided a marked increase of cell proliferation rate (40%–60%, 2-fold and about 4-fold respect to animals treated with the native polysaccharide and only with the vehicle). On the other hand virtually no differences were noted for the release of both ILs and IFN-γ.