Structural characterization of Eurotium cristatum spore polysaccharide and its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic ability...

Fuzhuan brick tea is a Chinese fermented tea with hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Eurotium cristatum plays an important role in the fermentation of Fuzhuan brick tea, and the E. cristatum spore content is important for evaluating the quality of Fuzhuan brick tea. In this study, an E. cristatum spores polysaccharide (ECSP-1), was isolated for the first time. The average molecular weight of ECSP-1 was approximately 28.64 kDa, and it consisted of mannose and galactose at a molecular molar ratio of 1:3.97. The maximum percentage of residues in ECSP-1 was →5)-β-D-Galf-(1→. ECSP-1 has a core chain formed by mannopyranose via α-(1 → 6) glycosidic bonds. Approximately 75 % of mannose on the core chain has a long branched chain attached at C-2. The branched chain is a galactan composed of →5)-β-D-Galf-(1→ and →3)-β-D-Galf-(1→. ECSP-1 inhibited α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase in vitro; this inhibition was reversible competitive inhibition. ECSP-1 also possesses the ability to bind glycylcholate sodium and taurocholate sodium. Thus, ECSP-1 has potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic abilities and has the potential to be developed into hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic drugs or healthcare products.