Purification, structure features and anti-atherosclerosis activity of a Laminaria japonica polysaccharide

A homogeneous polysaccharide (LJP12) was isolated from Laminaria japonica by diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and Sephacryl S-500 chromatography, with a molecular weight of 2.31×10(6)Da. Monosaccharide analysis showed that LJP12 was mainly composed of arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 1:0.17:1.54:2.64:0.18. For these monosaccharides, mannose was suggested to be 1,4-linked and 1,3,6-linked while glucose was linked by 1,6-glycosidic bond. The xylose, arabinose and galactose were suggested to be the terminal residues. To study the effects of LJP12 on protecting against atherosclerosis, LJP12 was administered to LDL receptor-deficient (LDLr(-/-)) mice (50, 100 and 200mg/kg/day, n=30 for each experimental group). Results showed that LJP12 exhibited the ability to inhibit high-fat-cholesterol diet (HFD)-induced formation of atherosclerotic plaques and plasma lipid levels in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, both the HFD-induced systemic inflammation and local inflammation at the site of atherosclerotic lesion were significantly attenuated by LJP12, which were accompanied by the suppression of the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. Taken together, we concluded that long-term oral administration of LJP12 protects against atherosclerosis in LDLr(-/-) mice via inhibiting NF-κB/MAPKs-mediated inflammatory responses.