Structural characterization and hepatoprotective activity of an acidic polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum

In this study, Ganoderma lucidum crude polysaccharide (GLP) was found to have protective effect on liver damage in mice caused by restraint stress through improving oxidative status. Two polysaccharides, including a neutral beta-glucan (GLPB2) and an acidic beta-glucan (GLPC2) were purified from GLP through anion-exchange chromatography (AEC) combined with gel permeation. GLPC2, with an average molecular weight of 20.56 kDa, exhibited stronger hepatopmtective effect against H2O2-induced liver injury in HepG2 cells compared to GLPB2. Glycosidic residues and NMR analysis comprehensively revealed that GLPC2 contained D-Glcp-(1 ->, 3)-D-Glcp-(1 ->, -> 4)-D-Glcp-(1 ->, -> 6)-D-Glcp-(1 ->, -> 3, 6)-D-Glcp-(1 -> and -> 4)-D-GlcpA-(1 -> . AEC can be an effective technique for separating beta-glucans into neutral and acidic fractions by different ionic strength buffer. The findings provided a theoretical basis for the potential application of G. lucidum polysaccharides as a hepatoprotective in food and pharmaceutical industry.

Automated summary

In this study, Ganoderma lucidum crude polysaccharide (GLP) was found to have a protective effect on liver damage caused by restraint stress in mice by improving oxidative status. Two polysaccharides, including a neutral beta-glucan (GLPB2) and an acidic beta-glucan (GLPC2), were purified from GLP. GLPC2 exhibited a stronger hepatoprotective effect compared to GLPB2. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the potential application of G. lucidum polysaccharides as hepatoprotective agents in the food and pharmaceutical industry.