A neutral polysaccharide (EAP-1N) and an acidic polysaccharide (EAP-2A) were purified from Epimedium acuminatum by DEAE-52 cellulose anion-exchange chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography. Their structures were characterized by chemical composition analysis, high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, their antioxidant activities were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that EAP-2A had higher uronic acid content and larger average molecular weight than EAP-1N. Compared with EAP-1N, EAP-2A exhibited significantly scavenging activities against free radical in vitro, as well as strongly stimulating effect on antioxidant enzyme activities (including superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalases (CAT), and glutathione peroxidases (GSH-PX)) and preferably inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation and protein carboxyl in the mode of Caenorhabditis elegans.
Keywords: Acidic polysaccharide; Antioxidant activities; Caenorhabditis elegans; Epimedium acuminatum Franch; Neutral polysaccharide.
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