Extraction, structural characterization, and protective effect against oxidative damage of a polysaccharide from
Hui Tang1, Zhejiang Yan1, Xutong Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China; Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China; College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China.
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Polygala crotalarioides Buch.-Ham.is a botanical species used in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains abundant bioactive components, among which polysaccharides exhibit antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. In this study, a polysaccharide (PCB-T) was isolated from Polygala crotalarioides Buch.-Ham. and structurally characterized. Structural analysis revealed that PCB-T has a relative molecular weight of 1.95 × 103 kDa and is composed of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose, galactose and galacturonic acid in a molar ratio of 1.0:4.67:0.36:0.93:5.25:0.35. In vitro antioxidant testing demonstrated that PCB-T possessed marked antioxidant activity. The protective effect of PCB-T and its underlying mechanism were investigated using an H₂O₂-induced oxidative injury model in PC12 cells. PCB-T treatment modulated key oxidative stress markers in PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, as evidenced by reduced LDH and MDA levels, and increased SOD activity. Western blot results demonstrate that PCB-T stimulated the PI3K/AKT pathway and modulated the expression of key apoptotic proteins, including suppressed BAX and Caspase-3 while enhancing Bcl-2. These coordinated effects ultimately protected PC12 cells from H₂O₂-induced oxidative injury. In conclusion, PCB-T holds potential as a functional ingredient to address neurodegenerative disorders linked to oxidative damage.
