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. 2012:2012:273435.
doi: 10.1155/2012/273435. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Polysaccharides from the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps taii Show Antioxidant and Immunoenhancing Activities in a D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mouse Model

Jian-Hui Xiao  1 , Dai-Min Xiao, Dai-Xiong Chen, Yu Xiao, Zong-Qi Liang, Jian-Jiang Zhong
Affiliations

Polysaccharides from the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps taii Show Antioxidant and Immunoenhancing Activities in a D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mouse Model

Jian-Hui Xiao et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012.

Abstract

Cordyceps taii, an edible medicinal mushroom native to south China, is recognized as an unparalleled resource of healthy foods and drug discovery. In the present study, the antioxidant pharmacological properties of C. taii were systematically investigated. In vitro assays revealed the scavenging activities of the aqueous extract and polysaccharides of C. taii against various free radicals, that is, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion radical. The EC(50) values for superoxide anion-free radical ranged from 2.04 mg/mL to 2.49 mg/mL, which was at least 2.6-fold stronger than that of antioxidant thiourea. The polysaccharides also significantly enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and markedly decreased the malondialdehyde production of lipid peroxidation in a D-galactose-induced aging mouse model. Interestingly, the immune function of the administration group was significantly boosted compared with the D-galactose-induced aging model group. Therefore, the C. taii polysaccharides possessed potent antioxidant activity closely associated with immune function enhancement and free radical scavenging. These findings suggest that the polysaccharides are a promising source of natural antioxidants and antiaging drugs. Consequently, a preliminary chemical investigation was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and revealed that the polysaccharides studied were mainly composed of glucose, mannose, and galactose. Fourier-transform infrared spectra also showed characteristic polysaccharide absorption bands.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of the aqueous polysaccharide fractions of Cordyceps taii on free radical scavenging and metal ion chelation in vitro. (a) DPPH free radical scavenging, (b) hydroxyl free radical scavenging, (c) superoxide anion free radical scavenging, and (d) ferrous ion chelation. AECT: aqueous extract of C. taii; APCT: aqueous crude polysaccharide fraction of C. taii; TU: thiourea; EDTA: ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of the aqueous polysaccharide fractions of C. taii on SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities of the blood (a-L/R), brain (b-L/R), liver (c-L/R), and heart (d-L/R) of D-galactose-induced aging mice. The normal group was administered with normal saline s.c. and water orally. The model group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and water orally. The positive control group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg) orally. The APCT group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and APCT (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally. All drugs were administered for 45 d. The values shown are the mean ± SD of 10 mice. ▲ P < 0.05, ▲▲ P < 0.01 versus normal group. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 versus the model group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of the aqueous polysaccharide fractions of C. taii on the MDA content in the blood (a), brain (b), liver (c), and heart (d) of D-galactose-induced aging mice. The normal group was administered with normal saline s.c. and water orally. The model group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and water orally. The positive control group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg) orally. The APCT group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and APCT (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally. All drugs were administered for 45 d. The values shown are the mean ± SD of 10 mice. ▲ P < 0.05 and ▲▲ P < 0.01 versus normal group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus the model group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of the aqueous polysaccharide fractions of C. taii on the immune function of D-galactose-induced aging mice. (a) T lymphocyte proliferation in spleen, (b) B lymphocyte proliferation in spleen, (c) phagocytic ratio of peritoneal macrophages, (d) phagocytic index of peritoneal macrophages, and (e) IgG content of venous serum. The normal group was administered with normal saline s.c. and water orally. The model group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and water orally. The positive control group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg) orally. The APCT group was administered with D-galactose (120 mg/kg, s.c.) and APCT (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally. All drugs were administered for 45 d. The values shown are the mean ± SD of 10 mice. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 versus the model group.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Isolation and purification of the aqueous polysaccharides of C. taii using chromatography columns. (a) Profile of APCT in DEAE-cellulose-52 by column chromatography (eluted with 0 M to 0.125 M NaCl and 0.3 M NaOH) and (b) profile of Fr2 by Sephadex G-100 gel column chromatography (eluted with distilled water).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Typical UV spectra of AECT (a), APCT (b), and PCT-1 (c) isolated from C. taii.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Typical IR spectrum of PCT-1 isolated from C. taii.
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