Characterization and antioxidant activity of two low-molecular-weight polysaccharides purified from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum

Two low-molecular-weight polysaccharides, GLP(L)1 and GLP(L)2, purified from a crude Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide preparation GLPP were investigated for their physicochemical properties. structure characterization and antioxidant activities The results indicated that GLP(L)1 was a glucan with an average molecular weight of 5 2 kDa, while GLP(L)2 was composed of glucose, galactose and mannose in a ratio of 29 1 8 1.0 with the average molecular weight of 15.4 kDa GLP(L)1 and GLP(L)2 had similar structure characteristic which contained linkages such as -> 3)-Glcp-(1 ->,-> 4)-Glcp-(1 ->,-> 6)-Glcp-(1 ->,-> 3,6)-Glcp-(1 ->, and -> 4,6 )-Glcp-(1 -> in the percentage ratio of 21.9 20 3 23.7 24 0 3 7 and 23 0 34 6 7 0 14.1 3.0 in the backbone or branches, respectively Antioxidant results showed that both GLP(L)1 and GLP(L)2 exhibited antioxidant activities while GLP(L)1 was more effective in free radicals scavenging and Fe2+ chelating. Low-molecular-weight polysaccharide seems to play an important role in the exploration of natural antioxidants in food industry and pharmaceuticals (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved