Structure and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide POJ-U1a extracted by ultrasound from Ophiopogon japonicus

Structural characterization of an inulin neoseries-type fructan from Ophiopogonis Radix and the therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis in vivo

Ophiopogonis Radix is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine and functional food that is rich in polysaccharides and has fructan as a characteristic component. In this study, an inulin neoseries-type fructan designated as OJP-W2 was obtained and characterized from Ophiopogonis Radix, and its potential therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis in vivo were investigated. Structural studies revealed that OJP-W2 had a molecular weight of 5.76 kDa and was composed of glucose and fructose with a molar ratio of 1.00:30.87. Further analysis revealed OJP-W2 has a predominantly lineal (1-2)-linked β-D-fructosyl units linked to the glucose moiety of the sucrose molecule with (2-6)-linked β-D-fructosyl side chains. Pharmacological studies revealed that OJP-W2 exerted a marked hepatoprotective effect against liver fibrosis, the mechanism of action was involved in regulating collagen deposition (α-SMA, COL1A1 and liver Hyp contents) and TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway, alleviating liver inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, CCL5 and F4/80) and MAPK signaling pathway, and inhibiting hepatic apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2, ATF4 and Caspase 3). These data provide evidence for expanding Ophiopogonis Radix-acquired fructan types and advancing our understanding of the specific role of inulin neoseries-type fructan in liver fibrosis therapy.

The traditional use, structure, and immunostimulatory activity of bioactive polysaccharides from traditional Chinese root medicines: A review

As research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has expanded, our understanding of the role it can have in controlling the immune system has increased. Polysaccharides from medicinal plants exhibit numerous beneficial therapeutic properties, presumably owing to their modulation of innate immunity and macrophage function. Numerous studies have demonstrated the multiple ways whereby certain polysaccharides can affect the immune system. In addition to stimulating immune cells, such as T cells, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells, polysaccharides stimulate complements and increase cytokine secretion. The biological functions of polysaccharides are directly correlated with their structures. This paper summarizes the sources, TCM uses, extraction and purification methods, structural characterization, in vitro and in vivo immune activities, and underlying molecular mechanisms of TCM root polysaccharides. Moreover, the structure-activity relationships of TCM root polysaccharides are emphasized and discussed. This review can provide a scientific basis for the research and industrial utilization of TCM root polysaccharides.

Ophiopogon japonicus and its active compounds: A review of potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl., a well-known Chinese herb, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that O. japonicus and its active compounds exhibit potential anticancer effects in a variety of cancer cells in vitro and suppress tumor growth and metastasis without causing serious toxicity in vivo.

PURPOSE

This review aims to systemically summarize and discuss the anticancer effects and the underlying mechanisms of O. japonicus extracts and its active compounds.

METHODS

The review is prepared following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Various scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched using the keywords: Ophiopogon japonicus, tumor, cancer, carcinoma, content, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity.

RESULTS

O. japonicus extracts and the active compounds, such as ruscogenin-1-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-fucopyranoside (DT-13), ophiopogonin B, and ophiopogonin D, exert potential anticancer effects, including the induction of cell cycle arrest, activation of apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition, the mechanisms underlying these effects, as well as the pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical utility of O. japonicus extracts and active compounds are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights the research and application prospects of these compounds in immunotherapy and combination chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The traditional herb O. japonicus and its phytochemicals could be safe and reliable anticancer drug candidates, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. We hope that this review, which highlights the anticancer properties of O. japonicus, will contribute to drug optimization, therapeutic development, and future studies on cancer therapies based on this medicinal plant.

Polysaccharides from Nitraria retusa Fruit: Extraction, Purification, Structural Characterization, and Antioxidant Activities

Polysaccharides are important bioactive components of Nitraria retusa fruit (NRF). In this study, the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of polysaccharides from Nitraria retusa fruit (NRFPs) were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The structural characteristics and antioxidant activity were investigated. The maximum NRFPs yield of 3.35% was obtained under the following optimal conditions: temperature of 59.5 °C, time of 30.5 min, liquid-to-solid ratio of 19.5 mL/g. Three polysaccharide fractions, NRFP-1 (20.01 kDa), NRFP-2 (28.96 kDa), and NRFP-3 (67.45 kDa), were isolated. Glucose, galactose, and arabinose in different percentages were identified as the primary monosaccharide units. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis indicated the presence of α- and β-glycosidic bonds in NRFPs. The NRFP-3 exhibited the highest scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS, -OH free radicals, and Fe⁺³-reducing activity.

Microwave assisted extraction, characterization of a polysaccharide from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and its antioxidant effects via ferroptosis-mediated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

A microwave-assisted extraction procedure for the crude Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides (SMPs) obtained from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge was optimized. Four independent variables were studied: microwave power, extraction time, solvent-to-solid ratio, and concentration of ethanol, with optimal settings of 1200 W, 12 min, 38, and 86 %, respectively. The SMPs were successively purified by DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephadex G-100 chromatography to produce a novel polysaccharide termed SMP1. The SMP1 was composed of glucose, galactose, and fructose in a molar ratio of 1:1.67:1.12 with an average molecular weight of 6087 Da. Pharmacological studies showed that SMP1 protected from OGD/R-induced ferroptosis and lipid peroxidation by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in PC12 cells. Our research systematically indicated that polysaccharide could inhibit ferroptosis to alleviate oxidative stress injury, which laid the foundation for the future clinical application of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide.

Complete 1H and 13C NMR spectral assignment of d-glucofuranose

Although d-glucose is the most common sugar in nature, only a few NMR studies have focused on its minor furanose forms, and they have been limited to the anomeric position. Here, complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral analysis of α- and β-d-glucofuranose was performed, including signal assignment, chemical shifts, and coupling constants. Selective and non-selective 1D and 2D NMR experiments were used for the analysis, complemented by spin simulations and iterative spectral analysis.

Structural characterization of novel arabinoxylan and galactoarabinan from citron with potential antitumor and immunostimulatory activities

This study aimed to extract polysaccharides from citron and analyze their structures and potential bioactivities. Two novel polysaccharides CM-1 and CM-2 were purified from citron by DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. Monosaccharide composition, linkage and NMR data were used to infer their sugar chains composition. The anti-breast cancer cells and immunoregulatory activities of CM-1 and CM-2 were investigated. Results indicated that CM-1 (Mw = 21,520 Da), composed of arabinose, xylose, mannose and glucose in a molar ratio of 10.78:11.53:1.00:1.70, was arabinoxylan (AX) with (1 → 4)-linked β-d-Xylp skeleton monosubstituted with α-l-Araf units at O-3 position. While CM-2 (Mw = 22,303 Da), composed of arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 25.46:1.45:1.00:6.57, was galactoarabinan (GA) with (1 → 5)-linked α-l-Araf backbone substituted by β-d-Galp units at O-2 and/or O-3 positions. Both polysaccharides exhibited potential inhibiting cancer and immunostimulatory activities in vitro, especially CM-1. These results provide a basis for further research on citron polysaccharides.

Structural characterization of a homopolysaccharide with hypoglycemic activity from the roots of Pueraria lobata

A water-soluble neutral homopolysaccharide (PLP-1) was obtained from the roots of Pueraria lobata by DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography purification. The average molecular weight of PLP-1 was 16.2 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that PLP-1 was composed of glucose as a glucan. The structure of PLP-1 was characterized on the basis of extensive physical and chemical analysis, which indicated that the backbone of PLP-1 was mainly composed of →3)-α-d-Glcp(1→ and →4)-β-d-Glcp(1→ with a molar ratio of 7.0 : 1.0. Moreover, the hypoglycemic activity of PLP-1 was investigated by palmitic acid and high glucose induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. The results elucidated that PLP-1 could decrease the glucose concentration by up-regulating the expression of PI3K and AKT, and down-regulating the expression of FoxO1, PCK2, and G6Pase in insulin resistant cells. Therefore, PLP-1 could serve as a dietary supplement to ameliorate insulin resistance for diabetic patients.

Structural characterization of polysaccharides with potential antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities from Chinese water chestnut peels

Chinese water chestnut peels are a kind of vegetable processing waste containing many active components such as polysaccharides, the structure of which remains unknown. To elucidate the structure of polysaccharides from Chinese water chestnut peels, two polysaccharides named WVP-1 and WVP-2 were isolated. WVP-1 (3.16 kDa) consisted of mannose (1.75 %), glucose (84.69 %), galactose (6.32 %), and arabinose (7.24 %), while WVP-2 (56.97 kDa) was composed of mannose (3.18 %), rhamnose (1.52 %), glucuronic acid (1.42 %), galacturonic acid (4.83 %), glucose (11.51 %), galactose (36.02 %), and arabinose (41.53 %). Linkage and NMR data indicated that WVP-1 was composed mainly of →4)-α-d-Glcp(1→ and a certain proportion of →3)-β-d-Glcp-(1→, including linear and branched polysaccharides simultaneously. WVP-2 was a pectin-like polysaccharide with →4)-α-d-GalpA6Me-(1→ units and the branch points of →3,4)-α-l-Arap-(1→, →3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→. WVP-2 exhibited stronger potential antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities than WVP-1 in vitro. These results provide a foundation for the further study of polysaccharides from Chinese water chestnut peels.

Extraction kinetics, thermodynamics, rheological properties and anti-BVDV activity of the hot water assisted extraction of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide

The extraction kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GP) were studied, and its rheological properties and antiviral activity were evaluated. The results showed that the extraction process could be fitted to Fick's second law of diffusion. The optimum concentration (97.62 mg mL^-1) was obtained at a solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 15, (g mL^-1), an extraction time of 120 min and an extraction temperature of 80 °C. The whole extraction process was spontaneous and endothermic. GP was shown to be an acid glycoprotein with a complex structure using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). A study of its rheological properties showed that GP has the characteristics of a typical non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid and that its viscosity could be significantly affected by temperature, pH and the presence of other ions. Branched and soft fiber structures with irregular molecular aggregation were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, GP showed good inhibitory activity against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) via the regulation of the relative expression levels of the IRF-1 and IRF-3 genes in MDBK cells. This activity was found to be dependent on the physicochemical and structural properties of GP. These findings imply that GP can be considered as a natural source of active material for the prevention of viral disease.

The Preparation and Structure Analysis Methods of Natural Polysaccharides of Plants and Fungi: A Review of Recent Development

Polysaccharides are ubiquitous biomolecules found in nature that contain various biological and pharmacological activities that are employed in functional foods and therapeutic agents. Natural polysaccharides are obtained mainly by extraction and purification, which may serve as reliable procedures to enhance the quality and the yield of polysaccharide products. Moreover, structural analysis of polysaccharides proves to be promising and crucial for elucidating structure–activity relationships. Therefore, this report summarizes the recent developments and applications in extraction, separation, purification, and structural analysis of polysaccharides of plants and fungi.

Structural characterization and immunoregulatory activity of a new polysaccharide from Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis

A new homogeneous heteropolysaccharide (CMSPA90-1) was purified from bergamot by DEAE sepharose fast flow and Sephadex G-75 columns, and was shown to have a molecular weight of 17.6 kDa. Its chemical structure was elucidated by acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis, along with high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopies, the Congo red test, and circular dichroism. CMSPA90-1 consisted of a pyranoside and funanside with branches containing α- and β-configurations simultaneously. Arabinose and glucose might form an arabinoglucan backbone. The ultrastructure of CMSPA90-1 was further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that CMSPA90-1 had good thermal stability. The results of DPPH˙ and ABTS⁺˙ radical scavenging assays indicated that CMSPA90-1 exhibited free-radical-scavenging properties. Otherwise, CMSPA90-1 could promote the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and the neutral red phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells, which indicated that CMSPA90-1 could be researched and developed as one of the potential functional foods or natural medicines.

A new homogeneous heteropolysaccharide (CMSPA90-1) was purified from bergamot by DEAE sepharose fast flow and Sephadex G-75 columns, and was shown to have a molecular weight of 17.6 kDa.

The structures and biological functions of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese herbs

Most of traditional Chinese medicine substances come from herbal plants. The medicinal quality of herbal plants varies with the locations of cultivation, the parts of the herb collected, the season of the herb collected, and the herb processing method. Polysaccharides are major components of the herb plants and their biosynthesis is partly controlled by the genes but mostly influenced by the availability of the nutrition and determined by the various environmental factors. In recent decades, polysaccharides isolated from different kinds of Chinese herbs have received much attention due to their important biological activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, radiation protecting, antiviral, hypolipidemic, and immunomodulatory activities. Interestingly, different batches of the same herb can obtain different polysaccharide fractions with subtle differences in molecular weight, monosaccharide compositions, glycosidic linkages, and biological functions. Even with these variations, a large number of bioactive polysaccharides from different kinds of traditional Chinese herbs have been purified, characterized, and reported. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest polysaccharide extraction methods and the strategies used for monosaccharide compositional analysis plus polysaccharide structural characterization. Most importantly, the reported chemical characteristics and biological activities of the polysaccharides from the famous traditional Chinese herbs including Astragalus membranaceus, Ginseng, Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Cordyceps sinensis, and Ophiopogon japonicus will be reviewed and discussed. The published studies provide evidence that polysaccharides from traditional Chinese herbs play an important role in their medical applications, which forms the basis for future research, development, and application of these polysaccharides as functional foods and therapeutics in modern medicine.

Structural Characterization and Antitumor Activity of Polysaccharides from Kaempferia galanga L

The water-soluble polysaccharides from Kaempferia galanga L. (KGPs) were extracted and purified, and their structural characteristics and antitumor activity were further investigated. The UV spectrum, high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion chromatography (IC) were employed to evaluate the structural characteristics, and H22 tumor-bearing mice model was established to demonstrate the antitumor activity. Physicochemical analysis and UV spectrum results showed that the proportions of total sugar, protein, and uronic acid in KGPs were 85.23%, 0.54%, and 24.17%, respectively. HPGPC, FTIR, and IC indicated that KGPs were acidic polysaccharides with skeletal modes of pyranose rings and mainly composed of arabinose and galactose with the average molecular weight of 8.5 × 105 Da. The in vivo antitumor experiments showed that KGPs could effectively protect the thymus and spleen of tumor-bearing mice from solid tumors and enhance the immunoregulatory ability of CD4+ T cells, the cytotoxic effects of CD8+ T cells and NK cells, and finally resulting in the inhibitory effects on H22 solid tumors. This study provided a theoretical foundation for the practical application of KGPs in food and medical industries.

Relationship between structural properties and antitumor activity of Astragalus polysaccharides extracted with different temperatures

This study investigated the effects of different temperatures on structural characterization and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus. APS4 and APS90 were extracted at 4°C and 90°C, respectively, and purified by Sephadex G-200 column. APS4-90 were obtained from APS4 after treatment at 90°C for 6h. MTT results showed that APS4 possessed the highest inhibitory effects on MGC-803, A549 and HepG2 cells. HPGPC analysis showed that the average molecular weights of these polysaccharides were approximately 1.5×10⁶Da, while the asymmetrical peak of APS4-90 suggested heat degradation and configuration changes of APS4. GC, NMR and methylation results showed that these three polysaccharides had similar monosaccharide components (mainly contain glucose), and their backbones were composed of (1→2)‑α‑d‑Glcp. However, APS4 showed higher content of (1→2,6)‑α‑d‑Glcp compared to APS4-90 and APS90, which indicated that higher branched degree would be responsible for the stronger in vitro antitumor activity in APS4. These results were also confirmed by specific rotation and SEM analysis. Our study suggested that APS4 had the potential application for cancer treatment.

Effects of Different Temperatures on the Chemical Structure and Antitumor Activities of Polysaccharides from Cordyceps militaris

The effects of different extraction temperatures (4 and 80 °C) on the physicochemical properties and antitumor activity of water soluble polysaccharides (CMPs-4 and CMPs-80) from Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) were evaluated in this study. The results of gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) showed that a higher extraction temperature could degrade the polysaccharides with 188 kDa, mainly composed of glucose, and increase the dissolution rate of polysaccharides about 308 kDa, mainly consisting of rhamnose and galactose. In addition, the CMPs displayed the same sugar ring and category of glycosidic linkage based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, however, their invisible structural difference occurred in the specific rotation and conformational characteristics according to the results of specific optical rotation measurement and Congo red test. In vitro antitumor experiments indicated that CMPs-4 possessed stronger inhibitory effects on human esophagus cancer Eca-109 cells by inducing cell apoptosis more than CMPs-80 did. These findings demonstrated that the polysaccharides extracted with cold water (4 °C) could be applied as a novel alternative chemotherapeutic agent or dietary supplement with its underlying antitumor property.

Recent advances in polysaccharides from Ophiopogon japonicus and Liriope spicata var. prolifera

O. japonicus and L. spicata var. prolifera are distinguished as sources of highly promising yin-tonifying medicinals, namely Ophiopogonis Radix and Liriopes Radix. Liriopes Radix is generally medicinally used as a substitute for Ophiopogonis Radix in various prescriptions due to their extremely similar nature. Ophiopogonis Radix and Liriopes Radix are both very rich in bioactive polysaccharides, especially β‑fructans. Over the past twelve years, except for work on physical entrapment and chemical modification of obtained β‑fructans, the vast majority of studies are carried out to investigate the bioactivities of O. japonicus polysaccharides (OJP) and L. spicata var. prolifera polysaccharides (LSP), mainly including anti-diabetes, immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-obesity, cardiovascular protection, etc. In addition, OJP and LSP are considered to have the potential to regulate intestinal flora. The main purpose of this review is to provide systematically reorganized information on structural characteristics and bioactivities of OJP and LSP to support their further therapeutic potentials and sanitarian functions.

The chemical structure and anti-aging bioactivity of an acid polysaccharide obtained from rose buds

An acid polysaccharide, named R-PL, was extracted from rose buds by hot water (80 °C) extraction and purified by Sephadex G-200.

Isolation, purification, characterization and bioactivities of a glucan from the root of Pueraria lobata

The root of Pueraria lobata is considered to be a medicinal and edible herb for the treatment of diabetes, and it has a long history of application in China.

Optimization conditions for extracting polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis and its antioxidant activities

In this study, polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis were extracted using the ultrasound-assisted extraction method. Based on the results of single factor experiments and orthogonal tests, three independent variables-water/raw material ratio, ultrasound time, and ultrasound power-were selected for investigation. Then, we used response surface methodology to optimize the extraction conditions. The experimental data were fitted to a quadratic equation using multiple regression analysis, and the optimal conditions were as follows: water/raw material ratio, 43.31 mL/g; ultrasonic time, 28.06 minutes; power, 396.83 W. Under such conditions, the polysaccharide yield was 21.89±0.21%, which was well matched with the predicted yield. In vitro assays, scavenging activity of superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picry-hydrazyl radical showed that polysaccharides had certain antioxidant activities and that hydroxyl radicals have a remarkable scavenging capability. Therefore, these studies provide reference for further research and rational development of A. sinensis polysaccharide.

De novo assembly and annotation of the Zhe-Maidong (Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker-Gawl) transcriptome in different growth stages

Zhe-Maidong (Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker-Gawl) is a traditional medicinal herb in the family Liliaceae that has significant pharmacological effects on immunity and cardiovascular disease. In this study, three different growth stages of Zhe-Maidong were investigated using RNA-seq, and a total of 16.4 Gb of raw data was obtained. After filtering and assembling, 96,738 unigenes with an average length of 605.3 bp were ultimately generated. A total of 77,300 unigenes were annotated using information from five databases, including the NT, NR, SwissProt, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) databases. Additionally, the mechanisms of flavonoid, saponin and polysaccharide biosynthesis and of accumulation at different stages of tuber development were also characterized. From the first to third years, the contents of flavonoids, saponins and polysaccharides all increased, whereas the expression levels of related genes decreased in the flavonoid and saponin pathways and first increased and then decreased in the polysaccharide pathway. The results of this study provide the most comprehensive expressed sequence resource for Zhe-Maidong and will expand the available O. japonicus gene library and facilitate further genome-wide research and analyses of this species.

Ophiopogon japonicus--A phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong in Chinese), the root of Ophiopogon japonicus, is widely used in local medicines of China, Japan and some south-eastern Asian countries. According to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principle, Ophiopogonis Radix nourishes the yin, promotes body fluid production, moistens the lung, eases the mind and clears away heart fire. This review summarizes the achievements of the investigations in botany, phytochemistry, quality control, traditional uses, pharmacological activities and clinical studies on O. japonicus; this review also describes the shortcomings of studies on this herbal drug and thus serves as the basis of further scientific research and development of this traditional herbal drug.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

O. japonicus-related information was collected from various resources, including books on Chinese herbs and the Internet databases, such as Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Elsevier, ACS, PubMed and China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI).

RESULTS

O. japonicus is widely distributed in East Asia, especially in China. Numerous compounds were identified from this plant. The main components of O. japonicus include steroidal saponins, homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides, which exhibited various pharmacological activities, such as cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammation, anticancer, anti-oxidation, immunomodulation, cough relief, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

O. japonicus is a common traditional Chinese herbal drug used as the main ingredient in many prescriptions. Modern researches verified that O. japonicus can be used either as a healthy food or a therapeutic agent for disease prevention and treatment. The molecular mechanisms and chemical principles of this herbal medicine should be further explored.

Effects of extraction methods on the yield, chemical structure and anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides from Cordyceps gunnii mycelia

This study was to investigate the effects of different extraction methods on the yield, chemical structure and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from Cordyceps gunnii (C. gunnii) mycelia. Five extraction methods were used to extract crude polysaccharides (CPS), which include room-temperature water extraction (RWE), hot-water extraction (HWE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and cellulase-assisted extraction (CAE). Then Sephadex G-100 was used for purification of CPS. As a result, the antitumor activities of CPS and PPS on S180 cells were evaluated. Five CPS and purified polysaccharides (PPS) were obtained. The yield of CPS by microwave-assisted extraction (CPSMAE) was the highest and its anti-tumor activity was the best and its macromolecular polysaccharide (3000-1000kDa) ratio was the largest. The PPS had the same monosaccharide composition, but their obvious difference was in the antitumor activity and the physicochemical characteristics, such as intrinsic viscosity, specific rotation, scanning electron microscopy and circular dichroism spectra.

Structural characterization and biological activities of a novel polysaccharide from cultured Cordyceps militaris and its sulfated derivative

A novel polysaccharide (CMPA90-1; compound 1) was isolated from the cultured fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris. The chemical structure of compound 1 was elucidated by acid hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, and methylation analysis, along with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and one-dimensional [(1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)] and two-dimensional NMR (heteronuclear single-quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation). Sulfation of compound 1 by the chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine (CSA-Pyr) method led to synthesis of its sulfated analogue (CMPA90-M1; compound 2). The ultrastructures of both compounds 1 and 2 were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results of antioxidant assays showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited free-radical-scavenging effects, ferrous-ion-chelating ability, and reducing power. Also, in the cytotoxicity assay, compounds 1 and 2 showed inhibitory activity against A549 cells, with IC50 values of 39.08 and 17.33 μg/mL, respectively.

Nutritional Composition,α-Glucosidase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities ofOphiopogon japonicusTubers

Ophiopogon japonicustubers have been widely used as food and traditional Chinese medicine in China. However, their nutritional composition has not been fully reported yet. This study aimed to analyze the nutritional composition ofO. japonicustubers. Theα-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of the extracts obtained fromO. japonicustubers were also evaluated byin vitroassays. The results indicated thatO. japonicustubers are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and amino acids. Among four extracts, the n-butanol fraction (nBF) and chloroform/methanol extract (CME) ofO. japonicustubers had high amounts of total phenolic and flavonoid contents and exhibited goodα-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Theα-glucosidase inhibition of nBF was higher than acarbose. Overall,O. japonicustubers are full of nutritional compounds and have goodα-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities.

The effects of maekmoondong-tang on cockroach extract-induced allergic asthma

Maekmoondong-tang (MMDT) has long been used in Asian countries to treat respiratory diseases. However, the precise mechanisms underlying its effects on asthma are unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of MMDT in a cockroach allergen (CKA-)induced animal model of allergic asthma. After being challenged with CKA, the number of macrophages, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and total cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was evaluated. The Th2 specific cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were also analyzed in BALF along with IgE levels in serum. For histological analysis, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, and immunohistochemical staining were performed. In addition, airway hyperresponsiveness was assessed by noninvasive plethysmography. The cellular profiles and histopathologic analysis demonstrated that peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates were significantly decreased in the MMDT-treated groups compared with the cockroach extract-injected (CKA) groups. In addition, the IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels were significantly decreased in the MMDT group. MMDT treatment also significantly attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness. These results demonstrated that MMDT significantly reduced the hallmark signs of asthma: elevated serum IgE, airway eosinophilia, airway remodeling, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness. The remarkable antiasthmatic effects of MMDT suggest its therapeutic potential in allergic asthma treatment.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a low-molecular polysaccharide from Dendrobium huoshanense

The present study aimed at investigating the structural features and antioxidant activities of a polysaccharide fraction (DHP1A) obtained from Dendrobium huoshanense, a precious herb medicine in China. DHP1A mainly consisted of mannose (Man), glucose (Glc) and a trace of galactose (Gal), with a molecular weight of 6700Da. Its backbone contained (1→4)-linked α-D-Glcp, (1→6)-linked α-D-Glcp and (1→4)-linked β-D-Manp, with a branch of terminal β-D-Galp. The in vitro antioxidant evaluation revealed that DHP1A had a remarkable inhibition effect on the FeCl2-induced lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, DHP1A pretreatment decreased the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), and restored the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the level of glutathione (GSH) in the livers of CCl4-treated mice. These results suggested that DHP1A was a potential antioxidant component in D. huoshanense.

Antidiabetic activity of mycelia selenium-polysaccharide from Catathelasma ventricosum in STZ-induced diabetic mice

Se-polysaccharide from Catathelasma ventricosum (SPC-2) was purified by DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The average size of SPC-2 was 1.6×10(5) Da, and it was mainly composed of glucose (87.4%) with the conformation of β-pyran ring. The branched structure of SPC-2 was proved intuitively by atomic force microscope (AFM). The antidiabetic potential of SPC-2 was tested in STZ-induced diabetic mice. After STZ-induced diabetic mice being administered of SPC-2 for 30 days, SPC-2 treatment significantly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) that were increased by the STZ treatment. Further, the SPC-2 treatment led to increased activity of antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) that were decreased by the STZ. The results of histopathology also showed SPC-2 protected tissues (pancreas, liver and kidney) against peroxidation damage and maintained tissue integrity.

Characterization and bioactivity of polysaccharides obtained from pine cones of Pinus koraiensis by graded ethanol precipitation

Pinus koraiensis polysaccharides (PKP) were extracted by hot water from P. koraiensis pine cones. Five polysaccharide fractions named PKP-A, PKP-B, PKP-C, PKP-D and PKP-E were successfully separated at final ethanol concentrations of 30%, 50%, 60%, 70% and 80%, respectively. HPLC, FT-IR, GC-MS and automatic amino-acid analysis were applied to investigate their chemical characteristics. Monosaccharide component analysis indicated that the five fractions were all composed of D-ribose, L-rhamnose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-mannose, D-glucose and D-galactose, but their molar ratios were quite different. HPLC results revealed that the polysaccharides precipitated by higher concentrations of ethanol solution had lower molecular masses. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of the five fractions were studied on the basis of hydroxyl radical and ABTS radical scavenging tests. The five graded polysaccharide fractions exhibited good inhibitory power, and MTT tests in vitro showed the IC50 of PKP-A and PKP-E were 1,072.5 and 2,070.0 μg · mL-1, respectively. These results demonstrated that the PKP could be a potential source of natural antioxidants or dietary supplements.