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

Oxidative stress is closely associated with the initiation and progression of aging. Considerable interest centers in the potential application of natural polysaccharides in oxidative stress alleviation and senescence delay. Herein, LFP-05S, an acidic heteropolysaccharide from Lycii fructus, was purified and structurally characterized based on a combination strategy of molecular weight (MW) distribution, monosaccharide composition, methylation and NMR spectroscopy analysis. The dominant population of LFP-05S was composed of long homogalacturonan (HG) backbone interspersed with alternating sequences of intra-rhamnogalacturonans-I (RG-I) domains and branched arabinogalactan and arabinan. Orally supplied LFP-05S exhibited defensive modulation in paraquat (PQ)-damaged oxidative stress Caenorhabditis elegans by strengthening the internal defense systems. Under normal conditions, LFP-05S extended the lifespan without significant impairment of propagation. Overall, these results suggested LFP-05S and L. fructus are worth further exploration as promising redox-based candidates for the prevention and management of aging and related disorders.