Isolation, chemical characteristics and antioxidant properties of the polysaccharides from marine fungus Penicillium sp F23-2

Three polysaccharides PS1-1, PS12 and PS2-1 were successfully isolated from marine fungus Penicillium sp. F23-2 and the chemical characteristics were determined. Antioxidant properties of the three polysaccharides were evaluated by assays of various antioxidant in vitro systems. The results showed that PS1-1. PS1-2 and PS2-1 were primarily consisted of mannose with variable amounts of glucose and galactose, whereas their glucuronic acid contents, molecular weights and glycosidic linkage pattern were different. The three polysaccharides possessed good antioxidant properties, especially scavenging abilities on superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals. Moreover, PS2-1 showed higher antioxidant properties than PS1-1 and PS1-2 and should be explored as a potential antioxidant. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.