ABSTRACT
Objective To extract, isolate and purify the polysaccharides from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (ATP), determine the monosaccharide composition and molecular weight distribution of ATP, and evaluate its anti-oxidant activity in vitro. Methods ATPs were prepared by water extraction ethanol precipitation. Sevage deproteinization, DEAE-cellulose 52, and Sephadex G-50 column chromatography were applied for the further isolation and purification of polysaccharides. Then, the monosaccharide composition and mean molecular mass of ATP were analyzed by HPLC and HPGPC. The antioxidant activity of ATP was evaluated through the scavenging capabilities of DPPH∙, ABTS+∙, ∙OH and O[a formular is presented] free radicals. Results A neutral homogeneous polysaccharide (ATP1-1) and two acidic polysaccharides (ATP2 and ATP3) were obtained by column chromatography. According to the HPLC analysis, ATP1-1 consists of glucose, galactose, mannose and rhamnose. ATP2 consists of glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose, and rhamnose. ATP3 was composed of rhamnose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose. ATP1-1 with the average molecular mass of 2 310, had obvious effect on scavenging ability of DPPH∙, ABTS+∙, ∙OH and O[a formular is presented] free radicals, with IC50 values of 0.042 4, 0.007 9, 2.313 6, and 1.753 0 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion ATP1-1 displayed obvious anti-oxidant activity with a good dose-effect relationship.