Antioxidant effects and cytotoxicity of three purified polysaccharides from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.

Water-soluble crude polysaccharide LC was obtained from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. by boiling-water extraction and ethanol precipitation. The major polysaccharides LCA, LCB, and LCC were isolated and purified from the crude polysaccharide LC, and the monosaccharide components, average molecular weight and the main skeleton were analyzed and determined. The antioxidant properties of LCA, LCB, and LCC were extensively investigated with several biochemical methods, and the antiproliferative activities were also involved. Experimental results showed that all purified polysaccharides exhibited antioxidation and cytotoxicity, and LCB has the highest antioxidant and cytotoxic activity among them. It is possible that LCB is explored as a novel potential antioxidant and cytotoxic natural bioactive macromolecule. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.