Synthesis and Preliminary Biological Activity of Selenium Polysaccharides from Tussilago farfara L.

Abstract

Tussilago farfara L. selenium polysaccharides (STFPs, similarly hereinafter) were prepared by Selenous acid salt method from Tussilago farfara L. polysaccharide (TFP, similarly hereinafter). Taking the selenium content of STFPs as an indicator, the synthesis process of STFPs was optimized using response surface methodology based on single factor experiments. The optimal synthesis process conditions obtained are: 90 °C, 12 hours, selenide reagent ratio of 1.2: 1, HNO3 volume fraction of 0.7%, and the average selenium content of STFPs measured under these conditions is 2.338 mg/g. Characterization was carried out by measuring the selenium content, molecular weight, infrared spectroscopy. The results of antioxidant experiments showed that the maximum clearance rate of DPPH· by the selenium polysaccharide from Tussilago farfara L. was 73.16%, which were higher than from Tussilago farfara L. polysaccharides.