Structural characterization and antitumor activity of a polysaccharide from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua

Although polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua have long been considered promising bioactive components, their antitumor effects have remained insufficiently defined. In this study, a homogeneous polysaccharide, PHP-1, was isolated and purified from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. Its structural characteristics and anti-tumor activity were analyzed. Structural characterization showed that PHP-1 was a branched fructan with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution. In vitro experiments revealed that PHP-1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of several tumor cell lines, with the most pronounced effect observed in A375 cells. Additionally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that PHP-1 induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by modulating the expression of key regulatory proteins, including CDK2, Cyclin A2, Bax, and Bcl-2. In vivo studies further confirmed that PHP-1 promotes apoptosis and effectively inhibits tumor growth in tumor-bearing mouse model. This study provides preliminary insights into the potential role of the newly identified homogeneous polysaccharide PHP-1 in cancer therapy, offering a theoretical foundation for the high-value utilization of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua in anticancer research and related functional products.