Defensing against oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans of a polysaccharide LFP-05S from Lycii fructus

Chlorella pyrenoidosa polysaccharides supplementation increases Drosophila melanogaster longevity at high temperature

Chlorella pyrenoidos polysaccharides (CPPs) are the main active components of Chlorella pyrenoidos. They possess beneficial health properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing. This study aims to investigate the protective function and mechanism of CPPs against high-temperature stress injury. Results showed that supplementation with 20 mg/mL CPPs significantly extended the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster under high-temperature stress, improved its motility, and enhanced its resistance to starvation and oxidative stress. These effects were mainly attributed to the activation of Nrf2 signaling and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Additionally, it has been discovered that CPPs supplementation enhanced Drosophila resilience by preventing the disruption of the intestinal barrier and accumulation of reactive oxygen species caused by heat stress. Overall, these studies suggest that CPPs could be a useful natural therapy for preventing heat stress-induced injury.

A review of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides: Extraction, purification, structural-property relationships, and bioactive molecular mechanisms

Lycium barbarum L. is of great significance medicinal and edible plant, which is native to N. & Central China. The extensive health benefits of L. barbarum have earned it great respect in traditional medicine for centuries. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) being recognized as one of the most crucial bioactive compounds found within this plant, with it exhibit a diverse range of pharmacological activities and nutritional functions, thereby generating substantial market demand and broad application prospects. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of LBPs, the review discussed the extraction, purification and structural-property relationships of these compounds. In addition, this review provides a comprehensive summary of the potential mechanisms underlying various biological activities attributed to LBPs, including immune modulation, antioxidant effects, neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, and antitumor properties. The application status and the future research directions of LBPs were subsequently presented. This review will establish a robust foundation and serve as an invaluable resource for future research and advancements in the field of LBPs.

The relationship between polysaccharide structure and its antioxidant activity needs to be systematically elucidated

Polysaccharides have a wide range of applications due to their excellent antioxidant activity. However, the low purity and unclear structure of polysaccharides have led some researchers to be skeptical about the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides. The current reports on the structure-activity relationship of polysaccharides are sporadic, so there is an urgent need to systematically summarize the antioxidant effects of polysaccharides with clear structures and the relationships between the structures to provide a scientific basis for the development and application of polysaccharides. This paper will systematically elucidate the structure-activity relationship of antioxidant polysaccharides, including the molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkage, degree of branching, advanced conformation and chemical modification. For the first time, the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides is related to their chemical structure through histogram and radar map, and further studies using principal component analysis and cluster analysis. We critically discussed how the source, chemical structure and chemically modified groups of polysaccharides significantly contribute to their antioxidant activity and summarized the current research status and shortcomings of the structure-activity relationship of antioxidant polysaccharides. This review provides a theoretical basis and new perspective for further research on the structure-activity relationship of antioxidant polysaccharides and the development of natural antioxidants.

Extraction, purification, structural characteristic, health benefit, and product application of the polysaccharides from bamboo shoot: A review

Bamboo shoot is a kind of widely distributed natural green vegetable, which has a long history of consumption and cultivation, and has edible, nutritional and economic value. Bamboo shoot is nutrient-rich food with carbohydrates, fats, proteins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids and other chemical components, can meet the body's needs. Notably, bamboo shoot polysaccharides are the most attractive saccharides, most of which are water-soluble polysaccharides, and their various biological activities have been paid more attention by researchers. With the deepening of research on bamboo shoot polysaccharides, they have been found to have anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-complement activities, immunomodulatory, etc. Further research on bamboo shoot polysaccharides, their sources, molecular weights, chemical structures, monosaccharide compositions and structural characteristics are constantly explored. In order to better research and development of bamboo shoot polysaccharides, it is necessary to carry on a comprehensive arrangement. Here, the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, health benefits, structure-activity relationships and product applications of bamboo shoot polysaccharides were systematically reviewed. This article will deepen the understanding of bamboo shoot polysaccharides, provide knowledge base for further research on bamboo shoot polysaccharides, and expand the vision for developing related products.

Structural elucidation a complex galactosyl and glucosyl-rich pectin from the pericarp of immature fruits of Juglans mandshurica Maxim

A glucosyl-rich pectin, JMMP-3 (Mw, 2.572 × 104 g/mol, O-methyl % = 3.62%), was isolated and purified from the pericarp of the immature fruit of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. (QingLongYi). The structure of JMMP-3 was studied systematically by infrared spectroscopy, monosaccharide compositions, methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis, and 1/2D-NMR. The backbone of JMMP-3 possessed a smooth region (→ 4GalA1 →) and a hairy region (→ 4GalA1 → 2Rha1 →) with a molar ratio of 2: 5. The substitution of four characteristic side chains (R1-R4) occurs at C-4 of → 2,4)-α-Rhap-(1→, where R1 is composed of → 5)-α-Araf-(1→, R2 is composed of → 4)-β-Galp-(1 → and β-Galp-(1→, R3 is composed of α-Glcp-(1→, →4)-α-Glcp-(1 → and → 4,6)-α-Glcp-(1→, and R4 is composed of → 5)-α-Araf-(1→, β-Galp-(1→, → 4)-β-Galp-(1→, → 3,4)-β-Galp-(1→, → 4,6)-β-Galp-(1 → and → 2,4)-β-Galp-(1 → . In addition, the antitumor activity of JMMP-3 on HepG2 cells was preliminarily investigated.

Structure of a polysaccharide MDP2-1 from Melastoma dodecandrum Lour. and its anti-inflammatory effects

The anti-inflammatory activity of polysaccharides derived from Melastoma dodecandrum Lour. was evaluated in pyretic mice and HEK-Blue™ hTLR4 cells. The testing led to the identification of MDP2-1, which was then investigated for its structural characteristics and anti-inflammatory effects. Results showed that MDP2-1 had a molecular weight of 29.234 kDa and primarily consisted of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucose, glucuronic acid, and galacturonic acid. Its main backbone was composed of →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, →3,4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →2,4)-α-D-GlcpA-(1→, and its side chains were connected by →4)-α-D-Galp-(1→, α-D-Galp-(1→, →4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, and α-L-Araf-(1→. In vivo experiments on mice demonstrated that MDP2-1 attenuated LPS-induced acute lung injury, and in vitro experiments on RAW264.7 cells showed that MDP2-1 reduced the levels of inflammatory mediators and mitigated LPS-induced inflammatory damage by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4 downstream NF-κB/MAPK pathway. These findings suggest that MDP2-1 is a novel anti-inflammatory agent for therapeutic interventions.

Specific molecular weight of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide for robust breast cancer regression by repolarizing tumor-associated macrophages

The pro-tumorigenic M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) promote the progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis of breast cancer. The repolarization of TAMs from an M2-type toward an M1-type holds great potential for the inhibition of breast cancer. Here, we report that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) can significantly reconstruct the TME by modulating the function of TAMs. Specifically, we separated four distinct molecular weight segments of LBPs and compared their repolarization effects on TAMs in TME. The results showed that LBP segments within 50-100 kDa molecular weight range exhibited the prime effect on the macrophage repolarization, augmented phagocytosis effect of the repolarized macrophages on breast cancer cells, and regression of breast tumor in a tumor-bearing mouse model. In addition, RNA-sequencing confirms that this segment of LBP displays an enhanced anti-breast cancer effect through innate immune responses. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of LBP segments within the 50-100 kDa molecular weight range for macrophage repolarization, paving ways to offer new strategies for the treatment of breast cancer.

Structural analysis of a soluble polysaccharide GSPA-0.3 from the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer and its adjuvant activity with mechanism investigation

A novel polysaccharide (GSPA-0.3) was isolated and purified from the root of cultivated Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, and its structure, adjuvant activities, and mechanisms for inducing the maturation of mouse dendritic 2.4 cells (DC2.4) were extensively studied. Fraction GSPA-0.3, mainly composed by the galacturonic acid, galactose, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose, mannose, and xylose, had a molecular weight of 62,722 Da. The main chain of GSPA-0.3 was composed of →3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, and →3, 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→. Branched chains comprised α-L-Araf-(1→3, 5)-α-L-Araf-(1→5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, α-D-Glcp-(1→6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and α-D-GalpA-(1→ units connected to the C3 position of →3, 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→. In vivo, GSPA-0.3 was found to stimulate the production of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a; increase the splenocyte proliferation index; and promote the expression of GATA-3, T-bet, IFN-γ, and IL-4 in H1N1 vaccine-immunized mice. Moreover, GSPA-0.3 significantly increased the levels of neutralizing antibodies in the mice, and its adjuvant activity was found to be superior to aluminum adjuvant (Alum adjuvant). Mechanistic investigations showed that GSPA-0.3 activated the TLR4-dependent pathway by upregulating the expressions of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF-6, and NF-κB proteins and gens. The results presented herein suggested that GSPA-0.3 could significantly promote the efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine by modulating Th1/Th2 response via the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Exopolysaccharides produced by Antrodia cinnamomea using microparticle-enhanced cultivation: Optimization, primary structure and antibacterial property

Microparticle-enhanced cultivation was used to enhance the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from Antrodia cinnamomea. The structure and antibacterial activity of two EPSs produced by A. cinnamomea treated with Al2O3 [EPS-Al (crude) and EPS-Al-p (purified)] and without Al2O3 [EPS-C (crude) and EPS-C-p (purified)] were compared. It was observed that the addition of 4 g/L Al2O3 at 0 h resulted in the highest EPS yield of 1.46 g/L, possible attributed to the enhanced permeability of the cell membrane. The structural analysis revealed that EPS-C-p and EPS-Al-p had different structures. EPS-C-p was hyperbranched and spherical with a Mw of 10.8 kDa, while EPS-Al-p was irregular and linear with a Mw of 12.5 kDa. The proportion of Man in EPS-Al-p decreased, while those of Gal and Glc increased when compared to EPS-C-p. The total molar ratios of 6-Glcp and 4-Glcp in EPS-Al-p are 1.45 times that of EPS-C-p. Moreover, EPSs could alter bacterial cell morphology, causing intracellular substance leakage and growth inhibition, with EPS-Al having a stronger antibacterial activity than EPS-C. In conclusion, A. cinnamomea treated with Al2O3 could produce more EPSs, changing monosaccharide composition and glycosidic linkage profile, which could exert stronger antibacterial activity than that produced by untreated A. cinnamomea.

Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction, structural characterization, and anticancer activity of polysaccharides from Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit

In this work, Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit polysaccharides (RPs) were extracted by ultrasound-assisted enzymatic method. The highest extraction yield of RPs was 4.78 ± 0.10 % under the optimal extraction conditions. Two purified fractions named RP1 and RP3 were obtained and systematically characterized by a combination strategy of FT-IR, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight distribution, methylation and 2D NMR spectroscopy analyses. Structural analysis showed that the main chain of RP1 was composed of rhamnogalacturonan type I (RG-I), while the side chains were rich in arabinogalactan and galactose. RP3 was composed of long homogalacturonan (HG) backbone interspersed with alternating sequences of RG-I domains, with galactose and arabinose side chains. RP1 and RP3 induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in a dose dependent manner in vitro especially for RP1, and had no effect on L929 cells. Furthermore, the possible anticancer mechanisms were revealed, and results suggested that RP1 induced apoptosis through ROS-dependent pathway and mitochondrial pathway. The results of this work not only provided an efficient extraction method and theoretical basis for the application of RPs, but also may contribute to develop novel functional foods or pharmaceutical products for the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer disease.

Effects of in vitro fecal fermentation on the metabolism and antioxidant properties of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside

Anthocyanins' potential health benefits have garnered significant interest. However, due to low bioavailability, the gut microbiota-associated metabolites are suspected to mediate their bioactivity. In this study, cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) was fermented with fecal inoculum to simulate colonic microbiota interaction in vitro. The metabolites and antioxidant properties of pre- (P-C3G) and post-fermentation (F-C3G) were determined. Fermentation significantly increased contents of five metabolites (cyanidin, protocatechuic acid, phloroglucinaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid). Additionally, F-C3G demonstrated superior radicals scavenging than P-C3G, as well as to alleviate H2O2-induced damage in HepG2 cell via increasing superoxide dismutase by 43.26% and catalase by 39.83%, reducing malonaldehyde by 16.40% and cellular ROS production, and activating Nrf2 pathway. Moreover, F-C3G significantly extended the survival rate by 20.67% of Caenorhabditis elegans under heat stress by antioxidation in vivo. This study suggested that anthocyanins metabolism by gut microbiota produce specific metabolites, which potentially exerts protection.

Structural characteristics and structure-activity relationship of four polysaccharides from Lycii fructus

At present, the structure-activity relationship of polysaccharides is a common and important focus in the fields of glycobiology and carbohydrate chemistry. To better understand the effect of specific polysaccharide structures on bioactive orientation, four homogeneous polysaccharides from Lycii fructus, one neutral along with three acidic polysaccharides, were purified, structurally characterized and comparatively evaluated on the antioxidative and anti-aging activities. The GC-MS-based monosaccharide composition analysis and methylation results showed that the LFPs had similar glycosyl types but varied proportions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that LFPs consisted of arabinogalactan, rhamnogalacturonan and homogalacturonan structural domains. The results of the structure-activity relationship indicated that the antioxidative activity was positively correlated with the galacturonic acid (GalA) content, while the neutral multi-branched chains might be responsible for the anti-aging activity. This study is the first time to compare the principal structures and multiple biological activities of LFPs, which provided a reference for the industrial development and deep excavation of the health value of LFPs.

Structural elucidation of hemicelluloses from oil-tea camellia fruit shell

Oil-tea camellia fruit shell (CFS) is a very abundant waste lignocellulosic resource. The current treatments of CFS, i.e. composting and burning, pose a severe threat on environment. Up to 50 % of the dry mass of CFS is composed of hemicelluloses. However, chemical structures of the hemicelluloses in CFS have not been extensively studied, which limits their high-value utilization. In this study, different types of hemicelluloses were isolated from CFS through alkali fractionation with the assistance of Ba(OH)2 and H3BO3. Xylan, galacto-glucomannan and xyloglucan were found to be the major hemicelluloses in CFS. Through methylation, HSQC and HMBC analyses, we have found that the xylan in CFS is composed of →4)-β-D-Xylp-(1→ and →3,4)-β-D-Xylp-(1→ linked by (1→4)-β glycosidic bond as the main chain; the side chains are α-L-Fucp-(1→, →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, β-D-Xylp-(1→, α-L-Rhap-(1→ and 4-O-Me-α-D-GlcpA-(1→, connected to the main chain through (1→3) glycosidic bond. The main chain of galacto-glucomannan in CFS consists of →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →4,6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ and →4)-β-D-Manp-(1→; the side chains are β-D-Glcp-(1→, →2)-β-D-Galp-(1→, β-D-Manp-(1→ and →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ connected to the main chain through (1→6) glycosidic bonds. Moreover, galactose residues are connected by α-L-Fucp-(1→. The main chain of xyloglucan is composed of →4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →4,6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ and →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→; the side groups, i.e. β-D-Xylp-(1→ and →4)-β-D-Xylp-(1→, are connected to the main chain by (1→6) glycosidic bond; →2)-β-D-Galp-(1→ and α-L-Fucp-(1→ can also connect to →4)-β-D-Xylp-(1→ forming di- or trisaccharide side chains.

Integrated gut microbiota and fecal metabolome analyses of the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on D-galactose-induced premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) has become one of the greatest health threats to the reproduction of women during their fertile age. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are known for anti-aging and reproductive protective functions. Here, we investigated the protective effect of LBP on POI mice and revealed its possible mechanism by a combination of 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis. In the current study, female C57BL/6J mice treated with D-galactose were used as a model to investigate the reversal effect of LBP on the degenerative ovarian function. The ameliorative effect of LBP on POI was evaluated from the estrous cycle, ovarian reserve, serum sex hormone levels, and fertility testing. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were integrated to analyze the effects of LBP on the gut microbiota and fecal metabolic profile in the POI mice. The results showed that LBP administration significantly increased the total number of follicles and the number of follicles at different developmental stages in the POI mice. In addition, LBP was effective in reducing the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), regularizing the disordered estrous cycle, and increasing the number of offspring of the POI mice. The results from 16S rRNA sequencing showed that LBP had beneficial effects on the composition and structure of the gut microbiota in the POI mice. In a metabolomics study, a total of 23 metabolites were finally identified as potential biomarkers of POI, and multiple pathways were regulated after the treatment of LBP, especially the arginine biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the regulation effect of LBP on metabolites was closely related to Faecalibaculum, Bilophila and Anaerofustis in the gut microbiota. In summary, the results demonstrated that LBP could improve the ovarian reserve and provides evidence both on the gut microbiota and metabolism, which provide beneficial support for the applications of LBP in female ovarian function degeneration.

Lycium barbarum glycopetide prolong lifespan and alleviate Parkinson's disease in Caenorhabditis elegans

Introduction

Lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGp) is the main bioactive compound extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine. L. barbarum berries and has been proven to have numerous health benefits, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and cytoprotective activities. However, the antiaging effect of LbGp remains unknown.

Methods

The lifespan and body movement of C. elegans were used to evaluate the effect of LbGp on lifespan and health span. The thrashing assay was used to determine the role of LbGp in Parkinson's disease. To investigate the mechanisms of LbGp-induced antiaging effects, we analyzed changes in lifespan, movement, and the expression of longevity-related genes in a series of worm mutants after LbGp treatment.

Results

We found that LbGp treatment prolonged the lifespan and health span of C. elegans. Mechanistically, we found that LbGp could activate the transcription factors DAF-16/FOXO, SKN-1/Nrf2, and HSF-1, as well as the nuclear receptor DAF-12, thereby upregulating longevity-related genes to achieve lifespan extension. In addition, we found that the lifespan extension induced by LbGp partially depends on mitochondrial function. Intriguingly, LbGp also ameliorated neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease in a DAF-16-, SKN-1-, and HSF-1-dependent manner.

Conclusion

Our work suggests that LbGp might be a viable candidate for the treatment and prevention of aging and age-related diseases.

Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Health Benefits, and Application of the Polysaccharides from Lonicera japonica Thunb.: A Review

Lonicera japonica Thunb. is a widely distributed plant with ornamental, economic, edible, and medicinal values. L. japonica is a phytoantibiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and a potent therapeutic effect on various infectious diseases. The anti-diabetic, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-depression, antioxidative, immunoregulatory, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-gout, and anti-alcohol-addiction effects of L. japonica can also be explained by bioactive polysaccharides isolated from this plant. Several researchers have determined the molecular weight, chemical structure, and monosaccharide composition and ratio of L. japonica polysaccharides by water extraction and alcohol precipitation, enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) and chromatography. This article searched in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI databases within the last 12 years, using "Lonicera. japonica polysaccharides", "Lonicera. japonica Thunb. polysaccharides", and "Honeysuckle polysaccharides" as the key word, systematically reviewed the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, structure-activity relationship, and health benefits of L. japonica polysaccharides to provide insights for future studies. Further, we elaborated on the potential applications of L. japonica polysaccharides in the food, medicine, and daily chemical industry, such as using L. japonica as raw material to make lozenges, soy sauce and toothpaste, etc. This review will be a useful reference for the further optimization of functional products developed from L. japonica polysaccharides.

Regulation and mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharide on ameliorating aging in Drosophila melanogaster

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a notable bioactive component of Astragalus membranaceus and has been extensively investigated for its pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, neuroprotection, and anticancer effects. However, the beneficial effects and mechanisms of APS on anti-aging diseases remain largely unknown. Here, we utilized the classic model organism Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the beneficial effects and mechanism of APS on aging-related intestinal homeostasis imbalance, sleeping disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. The results showed that administration of APS significantly attenuated age-associated disruption of the intestinal barrier, loss of gastrointestinal acid-base balance, reduction in intestinal length, overproliferation of the intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and sleeping disorders upon aging. Furthermore, APS supplementation delayed the onset of Alzheimer's phenotypes in Aβ42-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) flies, including the extension of lifespan and the increase in motility, but without rescuing neurobehavioral deficits in the AD model of taupathy and Parkinson's disease (PD) model of Pink1 mutation. In addition, transcriptomics was used to dissect updated mechanisms of APS on anti-aging, such as JAK-STAT signaling, Toll signaling, and IMD signaling pathways. Taken together, these studies indicate that APS plays a beneficial role in modulating aging-related diseases, thereby as a potential natural drug to delay aging.

Insights into the Oxidative Stress Alleviation Potential of Enzymatically Prepared Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides

(1) Background: The extraction parameters can dramatically alter the extraction rate and biological activity of polysaccharides. (2) Methods: Here, an enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) was employed to extract D. officinale polysaccharides (DOPs), and its optimal extraction conditions were established by single-factor and Box-Behnken design (BBD) experiments. Further, on the basis of in vitro antioxidant capacity, the paraquat (PQ)-induced oxidative stress of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was chosen as a research model to explore the antioxidant activity of DOPs. (3) Results: The results showed that the extraction yield of DOPs reached 48.66% ± 1.04% under the optimal condition. In vitro experiments had shown that DOPs have considerable ABTS⁺ radical scavenging capacity (EC50 = 7.27 mg/mL), hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (EC50 = 1.61 mg/mL), and metal chelating power (EC50 = 8.31 mg/mL). Furthermore, in vivo experiments indicated that DOPs (0.25 mg/mL) significantly prolonged the lifespan, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and upregulated the expression of daf-16 (>5.6-fold), skn-1 (>5.2-fold), and sir-2.1 (>2.3-fold) of C. elegans. (4) Conclusions: DOPs can be efficiently extracted by EAE and are effective in the reduction of oxidative stress levels in C. elegans.

Structural characterization, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity of neutral polysaccharide from apricot (Armeniaca Sibirica L. Lam) kernels

Screening for α-glucosidase inhibitors and antioxidants from natural sources that could reduce postprandial glucose in diabetic patients and reduce oxidative stress had attracted considerable interest. In this study, a neutral polysaccharide (AP-1) with a triple helix structure was isolated and purified from the residue of apricot (Armeniaca sibirica L. Lam.) kernels by using DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 columns. The molecular weight of AP-1 was 23.408 kDa and consisted mainly of glucose with trace amounts of arabinose, galactose, and mannose, which had molar percentages of 98.48, 0.63, 0.62 and 0.27 %, respectively. The main chain of AP-1 was composed of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → interlinked, and α-D-Glcp-(1 → was attached as a branched chain at the O-6 position of →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. In addition, AP-1 exhibited stronger α-glucosidase inhibition and free radical scavenging ability compared to crude polysaccharides. Therefore, AP-1 could be used as a potential natural hypoglycemic agent and antioxidant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

A comprehensive review on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and quality control of the genus Lycium in China

The Lycium genus, perennial herbs of the Solanaceae family, has been an important source of medicines and nutrient supplements for thousands of years in China, where seven species and three varieties are cultivated. Among these, Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium chinense Mill., two "superfoods", together with Lycium ruthenicum Murr, have been extensively commercialized and studied for their health-related properties. The dried ripe fruits of the genus Lycium are well recognized as functional foods for the management of various ailments including waist and knee pain, tinnitus, impotence, spermatorrhea, blood deficiency and weak eyes since ancient times. Phytochemical studies have reported numerous chemical components in the Lycium genus, categorized as polysaccharides, carotenoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids and fatty acids, and its therapeutic roles in antioxidation, immunomodulation, antitumor treatment, hepatoprotection and neuroprotection have been further confirmed by modern pharmacological studies. As a multi-functional food, the quality control of Lycium fruits has also attracted attention internationally. Despite its popularity in research, limited systematic and comprehensive information has been provided on the Lycium genus. Therefore, herein, we provide an up-to-date review of the distribution, botanical features, phytochemistry, pharmacology and quality control of the Lycium genus in China, which will provide evidence for further in-depth exploration and comprehensive utilization of Lycium, especially its fruits and active ingredients in the healthcare field.

Polysaccharides as antioxidants and prooxidants in managing the double-edged sword of reactive oxygen species

Polysaccharides, a class of naturally occurring carbohydrates, were widely presented in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Recently, health benefits of polysaccharides have attracted much attention due to their unique characteristics in reactive oxygen species (ROS) management. ROS, by-products of aerobic metabolism linked to food consumption, exhibited a dual role in protecting cells and fostering pathogenesis collectively termed double-edged sword. Some interesting studies reported that polysaccharides could behave as prooxidants under certain conditions, besides antioxidant capacities. Potentiation of the bright side of ROS could contribute to the host defense that was vitally important for the polysaccharides acting as biological response modifiers. Correspondingly, disease prevention of polysaccharides linked to the management of ROS production was systematically described and discussed in this review. Furthermore, major challenges and future prospects were presented, aiming to provide new insight into applying polysaccharides as functional food ingredients and medicine.

Extraction, Structural, and Antioxidant Properties of Oligosaccharides Hydrolyzed from Panax notoginseng by Ultrasonic-Assisted Fenton Degradation

Plant polysaccharides exhibit many biological activities that are remarkably affected by molecular size and structures. This study aimed to investigate the degradation effect of ultrasonic-assisted Fenton reaction on the Panax notoginseng polysaccharide (PP). PP and its three degradation products (PP3, PP5, and PP7) were obtained from optimized hot water extraction and different Fenton reaction treatments, respectively. The results showed that the molecular weight (Mw) of the degraded fractions significantly decreased after treatment with the Fenton reaction. But the backbone characteristics and conformational structure were similar between PP and PP-degraded products, which was estimated by comparing monosaccharides composition, functional group signals in FT-IR spectra, X-ray differential patterns, and proton signals in ¹H NMR. In addition, PP7, with an Mw of 5.89 kDa, exhibited stronger antioxidant activities in both the chemiluminescence-based and HHL5 cell-based methods. The results indicated that ultrasonic-assisted Fenton degradation might be used to improve the biological activities of natural polysaccharides by adjusting the molecular size.

Structural elucidation of a novel arabinogalactan LFP-80-W1 from Lycii fructus with potential immunostimulatory activity

Polysaccharides are the most important effective components of Lycii fructus, which has a variety of biological activities and broad application prospects in the fields of medicine and food. In this study, we reported a novel arabinogalactan LFP-80-W1 with potential immunostimulatory activity. LFP-80-W1 was a continuous symmetrical single-peak with an average molecular weight of 4.58 × 10⁴ Da and was mainly composed of arabinose and galactose. Oligosaccharide sequencing analyses and NMR data showed that the LFP-80-W1 domain consists of a repeated 1,6-linked β-Galp main chain with branches arabinoglycan and arabinogalactan at position C-3. Importantly, we found that LFP-80-W1 could activate the MAPK pathway and promote the release of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokines in vitro. Therefore, our findings suggest that the homogeneous arabinogalactan from Lycii fructus, can be used as a natural immunomodulator.