Huijuan Pan

Effects of extraction methods on the antioxidant activities of polysaccharides obtained from Flammulina velutipes

Four polysaccharides (CFP, UFP, MFP and EFP) were extracted from Flammulina velutipes using hot water, ultrasonic, microwave or enzymatic methods optimized by orthogonal test. Preliminary structural characterizations were conducted using physicochemical properties. Polysaccharides extracted by all four methods showed similar physicochemical characteristics and FT-IR spectra. However, SEM images of tissues of F. velutipes were significantly different. EFP demonstrated better antioxidant activities against hydroxyl radical as well as improved metal chelating activity. UFP showed higher DPPH scavenging activity, but CFP exhibited higher antioxidant activity in reducing power. Hence, these polysaccharides can be used as natural antioxidants in functional foods or medicine. Further experiments on the biological activities of these four polysaccharides are currently in progress.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of endo-polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus grown on tofu whey.

Three fractions of the endo-polysaccharides from the mycelium of Hericium erinaceus (HEP) grown on tofu whey were obtained by the fractional precipitation with gradient concentrations of ethanol (HEP40, HEP60 and HEP80). The chemical and physical characteristics of the three crude polysaccharides were investigated by the combination of chemical and instrumental analysis methods. The studies to evaluate the antioxidant potential and the hepatoprotective effects of the three polysaccharides showed that they had different activities in different evaluation system. HEP80 showed strong activity on antioxidant in vitro and potent hepatoprotective effect in vivo and the hepatoprotective effect may be due to its potent antioxidant capacity. The HEP could be exploited as antioxidant product and a supplement in the prevention of hepatic diseases. The study also opens an avenue for the efficient utilization of tofu whey, which is usually discarded in environment, causing concerns.

Antidiabetic activities of ethanol extract of dry matters of culture broth of Coriolus versiolor in submerged culture

The study aimed to investigate the antihyperglycemic and antilipidperoxidative effects of ethanol extract of the dry matter from culture broth of Coriolus versicolor (ECBC) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice. Blood glucose level, insulin level, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), high density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum and reduced glutathione level (GSH), lipid peroxidation, glycogen, antioxidant enzymes in liver were evaluated. Moreover, histopathological observation was conducted. Streptozotocin treatment (150 mg/kg body weight) induced the decrease of GSH level, antioxidant enzymes activities, glycogen content in liver, HDL-C content and insulin level in serum, accompanied by the elevation of the lipid peroxidation in liver, serum blood glucose level, contents of TC, TG and LDL-C. Treatment with ECBC restored the changes in the above parameters up to the basal level. The protective effects were further supported by the attenuation of the degree of pancreas damage in ECBC treated mice.