New pectic polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula and Codonopsis tangshen: structural characterization and cellular antioxidant activities

BACKGROUND Codonopsis pilosula and Codonopsis tangshen are plants widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Two pectic polysaccharides from the roots of C. pilosula and C. tangshen named as CPP-1 and CTP-1 were obtained by boiling water extraction and column chromatography. RESULTS The core structures of both CPP-1 and CTP-1 comprise the long homogalacturonan region (HG) as the backbone and the rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region as the side chains. CPP-1 has methyl esterified galacturonic acid units and a slightly lower molecular weight than CTP-1. Biological testing suggested that CPP-1 and CTP-1 can protect IPEC-J2 cells against the H2O2-induced oxidative stress by up-regulating nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 and related genes in IPEC-J2 cells. The different antioxidative activities of polysaccharides from different source of C. pilosula may be result of differences in their structures. CONCLUSION All of the results indicated that pectic polysaccharides CPP-1 and CTP-1 from different species of C. pilosula roots could be used as a potential natural antioxidant source. These findings will be valuable for further studies and new applications of pectin-containing health products. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Automated summary

The pectic polysaccharides CPP-1 and CTP-1 from Codonopsis pilosula and Codonopsis tangshen roots can protect cells against oxidative stress and may serve as potential natural antioxidant sources. Structural differences in polysaccharides from different sources of C. pilosula may result in different antioxidative activities. These findings have implications for the development of pectin-containing health products.