Antioxidant activities of Sophora subprosrate polysaccharide in immunosuppressed mice

It is known that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals play multiple roles in some pathological events. Sophora subprosrate polysaccharide (SSP1), a natural polysaccharide with a mean molecular weight of 2.24 x 10(4), isolated from the roots of Sophora subprosrate was studied for its antioxidant activities in mice. The in vivo investigation demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of SSP1 was able to overcome cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression and significantly raised glutathione level, superoxidase dismutase activity, total antioxidant capacity, thymus and spleen indices in a dose-dependent manner in mice. The results showed that the SSP1, possessing pronounced free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities, may play an important role in prevention of oxidative damage in immunological system.