Protection of chronic renal failure by a polysaccharide from Cordyceps sinensis

A water-soluble polysaccharide (CPS-2), isolated from the cultured Cordyceps sinensis, was obtained by hot-water extraction, anion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Its structural characteristics were investigated by PMP pre-column derivation, periodate oxidation, methylation analysis, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. CPS-2 was found to be mostly of alpha-(1 -> 4)-D-glucose and alpha-(1 -> 3)-D-mannose, branched with alpha-(1 -> 4,6)-D-glucose every twelve residues on average. CPS-2 had a molecular weight of 4.39 x 10(4) Da. The protective effect of CPS-2 on the model of chronic renal failure was established by fulgerizing kidney. The changes in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine revealed that CPS-2 could significantly relieve renal failure caused by fulgerizing kidney. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.