Purification, Structural Characterization, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Novel Polysaccharide Isolated from Orostachys fimbriata

The present study elucidated the structural characteristics and anti-inflammatory activity of a novel polysaccharide isolated from Orostachys fimbriata, which is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. O. fimbriata polysaccharide (OFP) was extracted and subsequently purified by chromatography using a DEAE cellulose-52 and Sephadex G-75 column. The molecular weight was determined as 6.2 kDa. HPGPC and monosaccharide composition analysis revealed a homogeneous polysaccharide containing only Glc. Chromatography and spectral analysis showed that the possible chemical structure consisted of & RARR;4)-alpha-Glcp-(1 & RARR; and a small quantity of & RARR;4,6)-beta-Glcp-(1 & RARR; in the main chain and & RARR;6)-beta-Glcp-(1 & RARR;, alpha-Glcp-(1 & RARR;, and beta-Glcp-(1 & RARR; in the side chain. Morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated that OFP had a multi-branched structure, and the sugar chain molecules of polysaccharide appeared aggregated. OFP was found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 cells and by decreasing the extent of xylene-induced ear swelling in mice.