Isolation, Purification, Fractionation, and Hepatoprotective Activity of Polygonatum Polysaccharides

Abstract

In this study, three homogeneous fractions, PSP-N-b-1, PSP-N-b-2, and PSP-N-c-1, were obtained from an aqueous extract of Polygonatum using DEAE cellulose column chromatography, CL-6B agarose gel chromatography, and Sephadex G100 chromatography. Their monosaccharide compositions and molecular weights were analyzed. The results revealed that PSP-N-b-1, PSP-N-b-2, and PSP-N-c-1 are primarily composed of six monosaccharides: Man (mannose), GlcA (glucuronic acid), Rha (rhamnose), GalA (galacturonic acid), Glc (glucose), and Ara (arabinose), with molecular weights of 6.3 KDa, 5.78 KDa, and 3.45 KDa, respectively. Furthermore, we observed that Polygonatum polysaccharides exhibited protective effects against CCL₄-induced liver damage in HepG2 cells in vitro, operating through both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Our research findings suggest that Polygonatum polysaccharides may emerge as a promising option in the development of hepatoprotective drugs or functional foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Keywords: Polygonatum polysaccharides; anti-inflammatory; anti-oxidant; hepatoprotective activity.

Figure 1

Elution curve of PSPs from DEAE-cellulose column (A), elution curve of PSP-N on Sepharose CL-6B gel (B), elution curve of PSP-N-b on Sephadex G100 gel (C), elution curve of PSP-N-c on Sephadex G100 gel (D).

Figure 2

Monosaccharide composition and molecular weight determination results of each component of PSP-N. Monosaccharide composition: PSP-N-b-1 (A), PSP-N-b-2 (B), and PSP-N-c-1 (C); Molecular weights: PSP-N-b-1 (D), PSP-N-b-2 (E), and PSP-N-c-1 (F).

Figure 3

Effect of Polygonatum polysaccharides on the morphology of HepG2 cells induced by CCL₄. Normal control group (A), model group (B), low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of PSP-N-b-1 (C–E), low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of PSP-N-b-2 (F–H), low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of PSP-N-c-1 (I–K).

Figure 4

Effect of Polygonatum polysaccharides on ALT and AST of HepG2 induced by CCL₄: AST (A), ALT (B). Compared with Con group, ## p < 0.01; compared with Mod group, ** p < 0.01.

Figure 5

Effects of PSPs on oxidative indices and inflammatory cytokines in CCl₄-induced HepG2 cells. MDA (A), SOD (B), CAT (C), TNF-α (D), IL-1β (E), and IL-6 (F). Compared with Con group, ## p < 0.01; compared with Mod group, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.