Characterization and In vitro Antioxidant Activity of a Polysaccharide from C ordyceps sobolifera

Abstract

The characteristics and antioxidant activities of Cordyceps sobolifera polysaccharide (CSP) were investigated. Results from high-performance gel filtration chromatography showed that the average molecular weight of CSP was 1.53 × 104 kDa, while this polysaccharide was mainly composed of mannose, glucose and galactose in the molar ratio of 1.7:8.9:1 as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography after pre-column derivatization with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone. Fourier-transform infrared spectrum of CSP indicated the typical functional groups of polysaccharide. Antioxidant activity results showed that CSP had reducing power (OD700 was 0.87 at 1.5 mg/mL), and it also exhibited scavenging activities on hydroxyl (·OH scavenging rate was 47.6% at 5 mg/mL) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (scavenging rate was 55.6% at 1 mg/mL) in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that CSP has good in vitro antioxidant activity and can potentially be used for functional foods. Practical Applications Cordyceps sobolifera is a pricy traditional Chinese herb and it has been used in China for a long time. Polysaccharide extracted from C. sobolifera was characterized, and the antioxidant activities of this polysaccharide were investigated. The result may lay the foundation for the development of antioxidant functional foods from C. sobolifera.