Hepatoprotective Polysaccharides from Geranium wilfordii: Purification,Structural Characterization,and Their Mechanism

Traditional Chinese Medicine is generally used as a decoction to guard health. Many active ingredients in the decoction are chemical ingredients that are not usually paid attention to in phytochemical research, such as polysaccharides, etc. Based on research interest in Chinese herbal decoction, crude polysaccharides from G. wilfordii (GCP) were purified to obtain two relatively homogeneous polysaccharides, a neutral polysaccharide (GNP), and an acid polysaccharide (GAP) by various chromatographic separation methods, which were initially characterized by GC-MS, NMR, IR, and methylation analysis. Studies on the hepatoprotective activity of GCP in vivo showed that GCP might be a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of acute liver injury by inhibiting the secretion levels of ALT, AST, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDA expression levels, increasing SOD, and the GSH-Px activity value. Further, in vitro assays, GNP and GAP, decrease the inflammatory response by inhibiting the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α, involved in the STAT1/T-bet signaling pathway.     

Dictyophora Polysaccharide Attenuates As-Mediated PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Induced Mitophagy in L-02 Cell through Scavenging ROS

Arsenic (As) is common in the human living environment and a certain amount of exposure to As can lead to liver damage; this toxic effect has been proved to be closely related to intracellular PINK1/Parkin pathway-mediated mitophagy. Dictyophora is an edible fungus that extracts polysaccharides with antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. In the present study, we demonstrated that As induced the onset of mitophagy in hepatocytes by stimulating cellular production of ROS to activate PINK1/Parkin, and the extent of damage increased with increased As-induced toxicity. Dictyophora polysaccharide (DIP) has the ability to scavenge intracellular ROS, which can inhibit oxidative stress injury and inhibit the PINK/Parkin pathway through its receptors or efficacious proteins, thus preventing mitochondrial autophagy and alleviating the hepatotoxicity of As. In conclusion, our results indicate that DIP can reduce As-induced PINK1/Parkin pathway-mediated hepatic mitophagy through scavenging ROS and exert hepatoprotective effects, providing experimental data and theoretical basis for the development of medicinal value of Dictyophora as a dual-use food and medicinal fungus.     

芦荟多糖的光度测定新方法

研究了以茜素红分光光度法测定芦荟多糖的含量,探讨了最佳实验条件及干扰因素的影响.在水中,茜素红和芦荟多糖形成有色物质,检测波长为516 nm和325 nm,对应的线性方程分别为:A=0.0121ρ 0.0288,R2=0.9990和A=0.0109ρ 0.0441,R2=0.9992.在0～60.00 μg/mL范围内呈现良好的线性关系,采用该方法对芦荟鲜叶和芦荟制品中的多糖进行分析,平均加标回收率为96.85%,相对标准偏差≤5.0%.     

南极适冷菌Pseudoalteromonas sp.S-15-13胞外多糖的分离、纯化和结构分析

从一株南极海冰中分离出来一种适冷菌Pseudoalteromonas sp. S-15-13, 其胞外多糖具有良好的免疫活性.为了探讨南极菌S-15-13胞外多糖结构与功能之间的相互关系, 对其胞外多糖进行了分离纯化和结构分析. 粗多糖经DEAE-Sephadex A-50离子交换层析及Sephadex G-100凝胶层析纯化后得到组分EPS-Ⅱ, 经HPLC分析验证EPS-Ⅱ为单一组分, 其分子量为62000; 单糖组成、甲基化分析及核磁共振结果表明, EPS-Ⅱ的主体结构由(1,2)α-D-Man组成主链, 并在6位上有分支的新甘露聚糖.     

桑叶多糖SJB的结构分析和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶PTP1B抑制活性

通过DEAE-纤维素和凝胶过滤柱色谱对桑叶碱提粗多糖进行分级分离, 获得均一多糖SJB, 进行结构鉴定. 采用蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶PTP1B体外模型对SJB进行降血糖活性测定. 结果表明: SJB的相对分子质量为5.4×104, 由鼠李糖、阿拉伯糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖、半乳糖醛酸组成的酸性杂多糖; 主链由1,2-、1,2,4-连接的鼠李糖和1,4-、1,3,4-连接的半乳糖醛酸组成; 侧链包括末端、1,5-、1,3,5-连接的阿拉伯糖; 末端、1,4-连接的葡萄糖以及末端、1,3-、1,4-、1,6-连接的半乳糖, 主要通过鼠李糖的O4位和半乳糖醛酸的O3位与主链相连. 该多糖为首次从桑叶中获得的酸性杂多糖. 20 μg/mL SJB对PTP1B的抑制率为31.7%.     

A Comparison Study on Polysaccharides Extracted from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Using Different Methods: Structural Characterization and Anti-SGC-7901 Effect of Combination with Apatinib

For hundreds of years, Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. (AK) has been widely used as a treatment for spleen and stomach diseases in China. The AK polysaccharides (AKPs) have been thought to be the important bioactive components. In this stud, the impacts of different extraction methods were analyzed. The differences between AKPs extracted by hot water extraction (HWE), AKPs extracted by ultrasonic extraction (UAE), and AKPs extracted by enzyme extraction (EAE) were compared in terms of yield, total carbohydrate content, molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, and synergistic activity of the AKPs with apatinib were determined. The results indicated that the yield of the polysaccharide obtained from HWE was higher than that of UAE and EAE. However, activity assays indicated that UAE-AKPs and HWE-AKPs enhanced apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901) treated with apatinib and UAE-AKPs showed the strongest synergistic activities. This is also in agreement with the fact that UAE-AKPs have a smaller molecular weight, β-configuration, and higher galactose content. These findings suggested that UAE is an efficient and environmentally friendly method for producing new polysaccharides from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. for the development of natural synergist and for the treatment of gastric cancer.     

Comparative Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activities of Polysaccharides Extracted from the Radix of Platycodon grandiflorum with Different Extraction Methods

Platycodon grandiflorum is an edible and medicinal plant, and polysaccharides are one of its important components. To further improve the utilization rate of P. grandiflorum, we investigated the effects of four different extraction methods, including hot water, ultrasonic-assisted, acid-assisted, and alkali-assisted extractions, on the polysaccharides, which were named PG-H, PG-U, PG-C, and PG-A. The findings indicated that the extraction method had a significant impact on the yield, characteristics, and immunoregulatory activity. We observed that the yields decreased in the following order: PG-H, PG-U, PG-C, and PG-A. Galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose were the most prevalent monosaccharides in the four PGs. However, their proportions varied. In addition, the difference between the content of glucose and galacturonic acid was more significant. PG-U had the highest glucose content, whereas PG-C had the lowest. Galacturonic acid content was highest in PG-A, while the lowest in PG-U. The molecular weight decreased in the order of PG-U, PG-H, PG-C, and PG-A; the particle size was in the order of PG-U, PG-A, PG-H, and PG-C. Moreover, the extraction method had a great impact on immunoregulatory activity. The ability to stimulate the immune function of macrophages was as follows: PG-A > PG-C > PG-U > PG-H. The results indicated that PGs, with lower molecular weights and higher GalA content, exhibited better immune-stimulating activity. And more important the AAE method was a good way to extract polysaccharides from Platycodon grandiflorum for use as a functional product and immunological adjuvant.     

Effect of the degree of deacetylation and the substitution of carboxymethyl chitosan on its aggregation behavior

The aggregation behavior of carboxymethyl chitosan (CM‐chitosan) with various degrees of deacetylation (DD) and substitution (DS) was characterized with viscometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and GPC coupled with laser light scattering (GPC‐LLS). The results indicate that CM‐chitosan has a strong tendency to form aggregates in aqueous solution and the aggregation behavior depends on DD and DS values. The apparent aggregation number (N_ap), the gyration radius (R_g), and the weight fraction of the aggregates (F_a) reached maximum at a DD value of 50%, then decreased, with the DD value deviating from 50%. A higher DS value helped to form aggregates; when the DS value increased from 0.65 to above 1.0, N_ap and R_g increased sharply. The dependence of the refractive index increment (dn/dc) on the DD and DS values was related to variation of the charge density and the hydrophobic interaction along the molecular chains. The conformations of CM‐chitosan aggregates were studied by the LLS method. The aggregates showed a spherical shape, and the chain stiffness increased with introduction of the acetyl groups. The DS value had no clear influence on the chain conformation that was observed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 296–305, 2005     

A modified protocol for isolation and purity evaluation of a staphylococcal acidic polysaccharide by chromatography and capillary electrophoresis

The extracellular slime of Staphylococcus epidermidis contains, amongst various macromolecules, an acidic polysaccharide (PS) of a molecular mass of 20 kDa with significant antigenic and biological properties. The isolation procedure used so far includes multiple fractionations in anion‐exchange chromatographic columns before its final purification by gel filtration chromatography. This protocol is laborious, time‐consuming and includes the risk of unnecessary loss of PS quantities. Because of the significance of this PS, a modified protocol resulting in an easier and quicker isolation procedure was developed. Furthermore, identification, purity, charge density and molecular integity of the isolated polysaccharide were evaluated by a reverse‐polarity capillary electrophoresis method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Embedding magnetic nanoparticles into polysaccharide-based hydrogels for magnetically assisted bioseparation.

Based on the preparation of biocompatible polysaccharide-based hydrogels with stimuli-responsive properties by the copolymerization of maleilated carboxymethyl chitosan with N-isopropylacrylamide, novel magnetic hybrid hydrogels were fabricated by the in situ embedding of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into the porous hydrogel networks. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses showed that the size, morphology, and content of the iron oxide nanoparticles formed could be modulated by controlling the amount of maleilated carboxymethyl chitosan. As confirmed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), equilibrium swelling ratio, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, the embedding process did not induce a phase change of the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and the resultant hybrid hydrogels could retain the pH- and temperature-responsive characteristics of their hydrogel precursors. By investigating the partition coefficients of bovine serum albumin as a model protein, this magnetic hydrogel material was found to hold a potential application in magnetically assisted bioseparation.