Structure and potential anti-fatigue mechanism of polysaccharides from Bupleurum chinense DC

Two polysaccharides, BCP-1 and BCP-2, were obtained from Bupleurum chinense DC. by water extraction and ultrafiltration. BCP-1 (1.04 x 105 Da) and BCP-2 (2.14 x 104 Da) were composed of Mannose, Rhamnose, Glucose, Galactose, Arabinose, and Galacturonic acid in different proportions. They both contained oligoga-lacturonides in their main chain. Besides, the backbone of BCP-1 was composed of 4-8-Galp and 4,6-8-Glcp, and branched at C4 of 4,6-8-Glcp. While BCP-2 contained a backbone of 3,5-alpha-Araf residues with branches at C3. BCP-2 effectively extended the forced swimming time, improved the glycogen reserves and antioxidant system, decreased the levels of blood urea nitrogen, lactic acid, lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine kinase expression. It alleviated physical fatigue through regulating 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling pathway in skeletal muscles. This study demonstrated that BCP-2 exhibited more effective anti-fatigue activity than BCP-1 potentially associated with its primary and higher structures.