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. 2018 Jan 30;23(2):281.
doi: 10.3390/molecules23020281.

Preliminary Characterization, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Polysaccharides from Taishan Pinus massoniana Pollen

Changming Zhou  1 , Shaojie Yin  2   3 , Zhongfang Yu  4 , Yuxiang Feng  5 , Kai Wei  6 , Weiming Ma  7 , Lijiang Ge  8 , Zhengui Yan  9   10 , Ruiliang Zhu  11   12
Affiliations

Preliminary Characterization, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Polysaccharides from Taishan Pinus massoniana Pollen

Changming Zhou et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to characterize the chemical composition, antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect of the polysaccharides from Taishan Pinus massoniana pollen (TPPPS). HPLC analysis showed that TPPPS was an acidic heteropolysaccharide with glucose and arabinose as the main component monosaccharides (79.6%, molar percentage). Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis indicated that the spectra of TPPPS displayed infrared absorption peaks characteristic of polysaccharides. In in vitro assays TPPPS exhibited different degrees of dose-dependent antioxidant activities , and this was further verified by suppression of CCl₄-induced oxidative stress in the liver with three tested doses of TPPPS (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg bw) in rats. Pretreatment with TPPPS significantly decreased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) against CCl₄ injuries, and elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Histopathological observation further confirmed that TPPPS could protect the liver tissues from CCl₄-induced histological alternation. These results suggest that TPPPS has strong antioxidant activities and significant protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity induced by CCl₄. The hepatoprotective effect may partly be related to its free radical scavenging effect, increasing antioxidant activity and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Keywords: Taishan Pinus massoniana pollen; antioxidant activity; characterization; hepatoprotective effect; polysaccharides.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HPGPC profile of TPPPS.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The HPLC chromatograms of PMP derivatives of component monosaccharides released from 11 standard monosaccharides (A) and TPPPS (B). Peaks: (1) mannose, (2) glucosamine, (3) rhamnose, (4) gluconic acid, (5) galacturonic acid, (6) galactosamine, (7) glucose, (8) galactose, (9) xylose, (10) arabinose, (11) fucose (internal standard).
Figure 3
Figure 3
FT-IR spectrum of TPPPS in the frequency range of 4000–400 cm−1.
Figure 4
Figure 4
In vitro antioxidant activities of TPPPS determined using DPPH• scavenging assay (a); HO• scavenging assay (b); O2•− scavenging assay (c) and ferric reducing powder assay (d). Vit. C was used as positive control.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of TPPPS on the enzymic activities of ALT (a); AST (b); ALP(c) and LDH (d) in serum after treatment with CCl4 in rats. Values are expressed as means ± SD for 6 rats in each group. ** p < 0.01, compared to the normal control group. # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, compared to the model control group. Bifendate Pills (BP) was used as positive control.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effects of TPPPS on liver histopathological changes of rats using H & E staining (×200). Liver tissues of normal control group (A); Vehicle + CCl4 group (B); 100 mg/kg bw TPPPS + CCl4 group (C); 200 mg/kg bw TPPPS + CCl4 group (D); 400 mg/kg bw TPPPS + CCl4 group (E); 100 mg/kg bw BP + CCl4 group (F). Arrow indicate hepatocyte ballooning.
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