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Glycomics, an emerging "omics" technology that was developed after genomics and proteomics, is a discipline that studies the composition, structure, and functions of glycomes in cells, tissues, and organisms. Glycomics plays key roles in understanding the laws of major life activities, disease prevention and treatment, and drug quality control and development. At present, the structural analysis of glycans relies mainly on mass spectrometry. However, glycans have low abundance in biological samples. In addition, factors such as variable monosaccharide compositions, differences in glycosidic bond positions and modes, diverse branching structures, contribute to the complexity of the compositions and structures of glycans, posing great challenges to glycomics research. Liquid chromatography can effectively remove matrix interferences and enhance glycan separation to improve the mass spectrometric response of glycans. Thus, liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are important technical tools that have been actively applied to solve these problems; these technologies play indispensable roles in glycomics research. Different studies have highlighted similarities and differences in the applications of various types of liquid chromatography, which also reflects the versatility and flexibility of this technology. In this review, we first discuss the enrichment methods for glycans and their applications in glycomics research from the perspective of chromatographic separation mechanisms. We then compare the advantages and disadvantages of these methods. Some glycan-enrichment modes include affinity, hydrophilic interactions, size exclusion, and porous graphitized carbon adsorption. A number of newly developed materials exhibit excellent glycan-enrichment ability. We enumerate the separation mechanisms of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), high performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC), and porous graphitic carbon (PGC) chromatography in the separation and analysis of glycans, and describe the applications of these methods in the separation of glycans, glycoconjugates, and glyco-derivatives. Among these methods, HILIC and PGC chromatography are the most widely used, whereas HPAEC and RP-HPLC are less commonly used. The HILIC and RP-HPLC modes are often used for the separation of derived glycans. The ionization efficiency and detectability of glycans are significantly improved after derivatization. However, the derivatization process is relatively cumbersome, and byproducts inevitably affect the accuracy and completeness of the detection results. HPAEC and PGC chromatography exhibit good separation effects on nonderivative glycans, but issues related to the detection integrity of low-abundance glycans owing to their poor detection effect continue to persist. Therefore, the appropriate analytical method for a specific sample or target analyte or mutual verification must be selected. Finally, we highlight the research progress in various chromatographic methods coupled with mass spectrometry for glycomics analysis. Significant progress has been made in glycomics research in recent years owing to advancements in the development of chromatographic separation techniques. However, several significant challenges remain. As the development of novel separation materials and methods continues, chromatographic techniques may be expected to play a critical role in future glycomics research.

Allium plants, including garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks, belong to the Alliaceae family and are utilized as vegetable, medicinal, and ornamental plants. These plants are consumed both raw and cooked and are noted in traditional medicine for their antibacterial, antitumor, and diuretic properties. Allium plants are a rich source of polyphenols, organosulfur compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, and polysaccharides, which contribute to their health benefits. As consumer interest in the association between diet and health grows, there is an increasing market demand for foods that promote health, particularly those rich in dietary fiber or non-starch polysaccharides. Allium polysaccharides (APS) have molecular weights of 1 × 10 3 -1 × 10 6  Da containing small amounts of pectin, glucofructan, or glycoproteins and large amounts of fructans. APS, despite its complex structure, is one of the principal active components of Allium plants but is often overlooked, which restricts its practical application. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the extraction and purification, structural and functional characteristics, bioactivities, structure-function relationships, and chemical modifications of APS, as well as the effects of APS processing and storage. Additionally, this paper outlines future research directions for APS, which will inform its development and application in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sanghuangporous vaninii, as a valuable dietary supplement and medicinal ingredient, contains abundant bioactive polysaccharides that have health-promoting effects. In the present study, four polysaccharides (SVSPs-C, SVSPs-E, SVSPs-U, and SVSPs-E/U) were extracted for the first time from S. vaninii spores by three-phase partitioning (TPP), enzyme pretreatment before TPP (E-TPP), ultrasonic pretreatment before TPP (U-TPP), and enzyme pretreatment followed by ultrasonic before TPP (E/U-TPP) methods, respectively. Their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro pharmacological functions were determined and compared. Results showed that four TPP-based extraction methods had remarkable impacts on the extraction yield, chemical properties, monosaccharide compositions, and molecular weights (M w ) of SVSPs. Specifically, SVSPs-E/U obtained by E/U-TPP showed the highest extraction yield (25.40 %), carbohydrate content (88.50 %), and the lowest protein content (0.86 %). The four SVSPs had high-M w (183.8-329.1 kDa) and low-M w (23.0-156.4 kDa) fractions and mainly consisted of galactose, glucose, and mannose with different contents. In vitro bioactivities assays indicated that SVSPs-E/U possessed stronger antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypouricemic, immunostimulatory, and antitumor activities than those of SVSPs-C, SVSPs-E, and SVSPs-U. Therefore, our results provide an efficient and promising extraction technique for bioactive polysaccharides from S. vaninii spores, as well as SVSPs had the potential to be applied in functional food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics fields., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Molecular structure and functional properties of glycinin conjugated to κ-carrageenan and guar gum using a dry-heating method were comparatively analyzed. Glycosylation was confirmed by analyzing the degree of grafting, protein subunit composition, infrared absorption profile, and changes in contents of protein secondary structures. K-carrageenan was proven to possess a greater susceptibility to be grafted to glycinin than guar gum due to its relatively low molecular weight and negatively charged characteristics. The improvement of solubility by glycosylation with guar gum near the isoelectric point of glycinin was better than that by glycosylation with κ-carrageenan. Glycinin glycosylated with both polysaccharides exhibited enhanced emulsifying activity and stability. The enhanced apparent viscosity, elastic modulus, and viscous modulus also demonstrated that glycosylation promoted the appearance of stable elastic network structure. In summary, glycosylation with these two polysaccharides conferred glycinin superior emulsifying and rheological properties, and κ-carrageenan exhibited a better performance compared to guar gum., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, Phellinus linteus polysaccharides (PLPS) and proteins were simultaneously separated from P . linteus mycelia by using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) based on choline chloride ([Chol]Cl)/K 2 HPO 4 , and the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of PLPS after ATPS extraction were evaluated. Results demonstrated that the maximal extraction efficiencies of 68.53% ± 0.29% PLPS and 82.37% ± 0.41% proteins were obtained when the cholinium-based ATPS contained 68.9% K 2 HPO 4 , 20% [Chol]Cl, 10.0 mg mL -1 crude water extract (1.0 mL), and distilled water (4.0 mL) at shaking time and temperature of 30 min and 21.2 °C, respectively. Compared with C-PLPS obtained using traditional ethanol precipitation and isolation protocols, PLPS had higher carbohydrate content (63.58% ± 1.12%), lower molecular weight (15.2 kDa, 80%), different monosaccharide compositions, and showed similar preliminary structural characterizations. Moreover, PLPS exhibited more evident scavenging effects on free radicals and in vitro antioxidant activities than C-PLPS. Therefore, the method of [Chol]Cl/K 2 HPO 4 ATPS can be developed as an effective strategy for the separation/purification of highly bioactive polysaccharides.

In this study, single- (SFU) and dual-frequency (DFU) ultrasounds were used to extract polysaccharides from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) pods (OPSs), and the physicochemical characteristics, functional properties, and in vitro biological activities of the OPSs were comparatively evaluated. Results showed that ultrasonic extractions at different frequencies led to remarkable variations in extraction yields, chemical components, monosaccharide compositions, molecular weights (MWs), surface morphologies, and rheological properties of the OPSs but hardly affected their preliminary structural features and thermal stabilities. The OPS obtained through DFU at 40/60 kHz with the lowest MWs (0.85-14.93 × 10 5 Da) and highest polyphenol content (7.38%) as well as loosest network structures showed superior antioxidant, cholesterol absorption and nitrite ion absorption capacities than the other OPSs, and the OPS extracted through SFU at 20 kHz with the highest carboxylate content (76.08%), MWs (7.28-32.83 × 10 5 Da) and degree of esterification (30.7%) exhibited higher bile acid-binding capacity than the other OPSs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, three-phase partitioning (TPP) coupled with gradient ethanol precipitation (GEP) was developed for the first time to extract and isolate polysaccharides (GPSs) from raw garlic (Allium sativum L.) bulbs. Four kinds of fructose polymers, namely, GPS35, GPS50, GPS65, and GPS80, were obtained at the final ethanol precipitation concentrations of 35%, 50%, 65%, and 80% (v/v), respectively, and their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro biological activities were investigated. Results indicated that GPS80 had higher carbohydrate (86.68% ± 0.90%) and uronic acid (12.89% ± 0.09%) contents, lower weight-average molecular weight (8.93 × 10 3  Da), and looser surface morphology than the other three GPSs. Furthermore, among the four GPSs, GPS80 exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacities, inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glycosidase, and nitric oxide stimulatory activity on RAW264.7 macrophage cells in vitro. Therefore, this study provides a simple and feasible technological strategy for producing bioactive polysaccharides from raw Allium vegetables., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, polysaccharides (BPSs) were obtained from fresh bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) by room temperature extraction techniques, including three-phase partitioning (TPP) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) performed in different solvents. The results showed that the extraction methods had significant influence on the extraction yield, chemical composition, weight-average molecular weight (M w ), monosaccharide composition, preliminary structural characterization and microstructure of the BPSs. The BPS-W sample obtained from the bitter gourd residue via UAE in distilled water had a higher uronic acid content (24.22%) and possessed stronger antioxidant capacities and α-amylase and α-glycosidase inhibitory activities than BPS-C extracted with UAE in citric acid, BPS-A extracted with UAE in 1.25 mol/L NaOH/0.05% NaBH 4 , and BPS-J extracted from bitter gourd juice by TPP. Moreover, BPS-A, which had the lowest M w s, showed the best bile acid-binding capacity among the four BPSs. This study had great potentials for the preparation of bioactive polysaccharides from fresh vegetables., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, three-phase partitioning (TPP) coupled with gradient ammonium sulfate ((NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ) precipitation (GNP) method was first used to extract and separate bioactive polysaccharides (OPSs) from fresh okra pods. Results showed that OPS-50 obtained by GNP at a saturation of 50% (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 after TPP presented higher precipitation yield, carbohydrate (86.82%) and uronic acid (22.34%) contents with same monosaccharide composition and different molar ratios compared with OPS-30 and OPS-40 obtained via GNP at saturations of 30% and 40% (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , respectively. OPS-50 had lower weight-average molecular weight (3.65 × 10 6 g/mol), more flexible chain, and relatively looser surface structure compared with OPS-30, OPS-40, and the OPS obtained with TPP parallelized with decreased apparent viscosity and dynamic viscoelasticity. Furthermore, OPS-50 exhibited stronger DPPH radical-scavenging ability, antioxidant capacity, and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro than OPS, OPS-30, and OPS-40., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The antidiabetic activity and potential underlying mechanism of a polysaccharide-protein (PSP) complex from Corbicula fluminea were determined in streptozotoxin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. PSP exhibited inhibitory activity (in vitro) against α-glucosidase and α-amylase via a reversible competitive inhibition pattern with a stronger inhibition for α-glucosidase. Dietary administration of PSP had potential antidiabetic activities in vivo, which was evidenced by the fact that PSP alleviates body weight loss and organ injuries, reduced fasting blood glucose levels, elevated glucose tolerance, and ameliorated lipid metabolism and hepatic functions, as well as attenuated oxidative stress in STZ-treated diabetic rats. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the antidiabetic activities of PSP were associated with the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway in STZ-treated rats. These findings supported the potential of PSP to be used as a functional ingredient in the preparation of functional and medicinal foods to inhibit diabetes mellitus and its complications.

In this study, three-phase partitioning (TPP) was used to directly extract and separate bioactive exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from a cultured broth of Phellinus baumii. The maximum extraction yield of EPS was 52.09% under the following optimal conditions: 20% (w/v) ammonium sulfate concentration, 1.0:1.5 (v/v) ratio of cultured broth to t‑butanol, 30 min, and 35 °C. A multifrequency power ultrasound in a sequential mode coupled with TPP resulted in ~9.12% increment in extraction yield and ~80% reduction in extraction time compared with those of traditional TPP. The carbohydrate (88.21%) and uronic acid (3.37%) contents of partially purified EPS were higher than those of EPS-C obtained through conventional ethanol precipitation and separation methods. EPS and EPS-C exhibited similar preliminary structural characteristics and different monosaccharide compositions and molecular weights. The radical-scavenging abilities, antioxidant capacities, α‑amylase and α‑glycosidase inhibitory activities, and macrophage stimulation activities of EPS were also higher than those of EPS-C. Therefore, it could be concluded that TPP as a simple and green separation technique could be used to directly extract and separate bioactive EPS from the fermentation broths of mushrooms and other fungi., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In this study, three drying methods, namely, hot-air drying, freeze drying (FD), and infrared radiation drying (ID), were applied to dry bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) slices. Results showed that the drying methods had significant influences on appearance, color, rehydration ratio, and microstructure of dried bitter gourd. FD provided high-quality dried bitter gourd products due to the uniform honeycomb network and less collapsed structure. Three water-soluble bitter gourd polysaccharides (BPS-H, BPS-F, and BPS-I) were obtained from the bitter gourd dried using the three drying methods. The three polysaccharides exhibited similar preliminary structural characteristics with different monosaccharide compositions and molecular weights. BPS-I obtained from ID-dried bitter gourd had higher sugar and uronic acid contents than BPS-H and BPS-F. BPS-I exhibited stronger antioxidant activities and bile acid-binding capacity in vitro than BPS-H and BPS-F. Moreover, BPS-F and BPS-I showed significant α-amylase inhibitory activities in vitro., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasound and three-phase partitioning (USTPP) were combined to extract and separate polysaccharides (PS) efficiently from Corbicula fluminea crude extracts. The following optimum experimental conditions were established: 20% (w/v) ammonium sulfate concentration, 1:1 (v/v) t-butanol to crude extract ratio, 180W ultrasonic power, 40kHz frequency, 100% duty cycle, 10min irradiation time, and 35°C. The maximum extraction yield of PS obtained from USTPP was approximately 11.22%, which was higher than the maximum yields from conventional three-phase partitioning (TPP; 9.32%) and ultrasound extraction (USE; 6.05%). The extraction time for USTPP was significantly reduced to 10min from 30 and 60min for TPP and USE methods, respectively. The primary chemical structures of PS collected through the three extraction protocols were basically conserved. The synergistic effects of ultrasound and TPP on PS extraction were also determined. Results revealed that USTPP is an effective technique to extract and separate PS from C. fluminea potentially applied in food, cosmetics, and medicines., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three-phase partitioning (TPP), which is a simple, efficient, and green bioseparation technique, was used to extract and separate polysaccharides from Corbicula fluminea (CFPS). The optimal parameters with a high yield of 9.32% were as follows: mass fraction of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 20.0% (w/v); amount of t-butanol, 9.8mL; temperature, 35.3°C; extraction time, 30min; and pH 6.0. The purified CFPS after TPP consisted of d-glucose, d-glucosamine, and d-mannose in a molar ratio of 57.1: 5.6:1.0 with high purity (86.5%) and different molecular weights (1311.1 and 41.5-92.8kDa). Amino acid analysis, UV-vis absorption and Fourier transform-infrared spectra indicated that the purified CFPS was a proteoglycan with O-glycosidic bonds. Moreover, the purified CFPS possessed strong free-radical scavenging abilities and antioxidant activities in vitro. The obtained Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and ferric-reducing ability of plasma values were 95.01μmol Trolox/g sample and 38.30μmol Fe 2+ /g sample, respectively., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Edible and medicinal fungi (mushrooms) are widely applied to functional foods and nutraceutical products because of their proven nutritive and medicinal properties. Phellinus sensu lato is a well-known medicinal mushroom that has long been used in preventing ailments, including gastroenteric dysfunction, diarrhea, hemorrhage, and cancers, in oriental countries, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. Polysaccharides represent a major class of bioactive molecules in Phellinus s. l., which have notable antitumor, immunomodulatory, and medicinal properties. Polysaccharides that were isolated from fruiting bodies, cultured mycelia, and filtrates of Phellinus s. l. have not only activated different immune responses of the host organism but have also directly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. Studies suggest that polysaccharides from Phellinus s. l. are promising alternative anticancer agents or synergizers for existing antitumor drugs. This review summarizes the recent development of polysaccharides from Phellinus s. l., including polysaccharide production, extraction and isolation methods, chemical structure, antitumor activities, and mechanisms of action.

In this paper, the novel polysaccharide PL-A11 was purified from an ammonium oxalate extract of Phellinus linteus mycelia. Its physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, and antioxidant activities were investigated. Results showed that PL-A11 had a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 13.8kDa and was mainly composed of arabinose, xylose, mannose, and glucose in a molar ratio of 1.1:1.3:1.0:6.6. The backbone of PL-A11 was composed of (1→4)-α-d-glucopyranosyl, (1→2)-α-d-xylopyranosyl, and (1→3)-α-d-arabinofuranosyl residues, whereas the (1→6)-α-d-mannopyranosyl residues formed branches at the O-2 position with 1-linked-α-d-glucopyranosyl terminal residues. From the antioxidative activity tests in vivo, the administration of PL-A11 obviously enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes and significantly reduced the level of malondiadehyde (MDA) in the serum and liver of d-galactose-treated aging mice in a dose-dependent manner, as well as effectively stimulated the immune system of aging mice. These findings implied that PL-A11 could be developed as a potential antioxidant for applications in the functional food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or nutraceutical industries., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide PL-N isolated from the alkaline extract of Phellinus linteus mycelia was degraded by ultrasound. Results showed that ultrasound treatment at different ultrasonic intensities decreased the intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight of PL-N, as well as narrowed the molecular weight distribution. A larger reduction in intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight was caused by a higher ultrasonic intensity. The degradation kinetics model was fitted to (1/Mt-1/M0)=k·t, and the reaction rate constant (k) increased with increasing ultrasonic intensity. Ultrasound degradation did not change the primary structure of PL-N, and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the morphology of the original PL-N was different from that of degraded PL-N fractions. Antioxidant activity assays in vitro indicated that the degraded PL-N fraction with low molecular weight had stronger hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity and higher TEAC and FRAP values., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A novel high molecular weight polysaccharide (PL-N1) was isolated from alkaline extract of the cultured Phellinus linteus mycelia. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of PL-N1 was estimated at 343,000kDa. PL-N1 comprised arabinose, xylose, glucose, and galactose in the molar ratio of 4.0:6.7:1.3:1.0. The chemical structure of PL-N1 was investigated by FTIR and NMR spectroscopies and methylation analysis. The results showed that the backbone of PL-N1 comprised (1→4)-linked β-D-xylopyranosyl residues, (1→2)-linked α-D-xylopyranosyl residues, (1→4)-linked α-D-glucopyranosyl residues, (1→5)-linked β-D-arabinofuranosyl residues, (1→4)-linked β-D-xylopyranosyl residues which branched at O-2, and (1→4)-linked β-D-galactopyranosyl residues which branched at O-6. The branches consisted of (1→)-linked α-D-arabinofuranosyl residues. Antitumor activity assay in vitro showed that PL-N1 could inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells to a certain extent in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, PL-N1 may be developed as a potential, natural antitumor agent and functional food., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polysaccharide-functionalized silver nanoparticles (Oc-AgNPs) with a mean diameter of 15 nm were utilized as a novel and effective fluorescence-sensing platform for nucleic acid detection. Tests on the oligonucleotide sequences associated with the human immunodeficiency virus as a model system showed that the Oc-AgNPs effectively absorbed and quenched dye-labeled single-stranded DNA through strong hydrogen bonding interactions and slight electrostatic attractive interactions. The proposed system efficiently differentiated between complementary and mismatched nucleic acid sequences with high selectivity and good reproducibility at room temperature., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To explore the effect of fucoidan treatment on oxidative stress-mediated dopaminergic neuronal damage and its potential mechanisms., Methods: The effect of fucoidan was investigated in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of PD, an animal model considered appropriate for preclinical studies of PD therapy. The effects of fucoidan treatment on animal behavior and the survival ratio of dopaminergic neurons were investigated. We further observed the effect of fucoidan on microglia and the NADPH oxidases-1 (Nox1), a family of enzymes generating reactive oxygen species (ROS)., Results: We found that chronic fucoidan administration mitigated the motor dysfunction induced by 6-OHDA. Similarly, fucoidan reduced the loss of DA neurons in the SNc and DA fibers in the striatum in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. Moreover, we found that fucoidan inhibited the 6-OHDA-stimulating expression of Nox1 in both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons and non-TH-positive neurons, prevented Nox1-sensitive oxidative stress and cell damage in SNc neurons. Fucoidan also effectively inhibited nigral microglial activation., Conclusion: These results support the beneficial effect of fucoidan in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of PD. Fucoidan may suppress the Nox1-triggered oxidative stress in the SNc to protect DA neurons from 6-OHDA-induced toxicity and achieve its beneficial effect., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Abstract Background Flammulina filiformis (previously known as Asian F. velutipes) is a popular commercial edible mushroom. Many bioactive compounds with medicinal effects, such as polysaccharides and sesquiterpenoids, have been isolated and identified from F. filiformis, but their biosynthesis and regulation at the molecular level remains unclear. In this study, we sequenced the genome of the wild strain F. filiformis Liu355, predicted its biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and profiled the expression of these genes in wild and cultivar strains and in different developmental stages of the wild F. filiformis strain by a comparative transcriptomic analysis. Results We found that the genome of the F. filiformis was 35.01 Mb in length and harbored 10,396 gene models. Thirteen putative terpenoid gene clusters were predicted and 12 sesquiterpene synthase genes belonging to four different groups and two type I polyketide synthase gene clusters were identified in the F. filiformis genome. The number of genes related to terpenoid biosynthesis was higher in the wild strain (119 genes) than in the cultivar strain (81 genes). Most terpenoid biosynthesis genes were upregulated in the primordium and fruiting body of the wild strain, while the polyketide synthase genes were generally upregulated in the mycelium of the wild strain. Moreover, genes encoding UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, which are involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, had relatively high transcript levels both in the mycelium and fruiting body of the wild F. filiformis strain. Conclusions F. filiformis is enriched in a number of gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and terpenoid bioactive compounds and these genes usually display differential expression between wild and cultivar strains, even in different developmental stages. This study expands our knowledge of the biology of F. filiformis and provides valuable data for elucidating the regulation of secondary metabolites in this unique F. filiformis strain.

Polysaccharides from Ficus carica L. (FCP) exert multiple biological activities. As a biological macromolecule, the available knowledge about the specific structures and mechanisms of the biological activity of purified 'Brunswick' fig polysaccharides is currently limited. In the present study, chemical purification and characteristics were identified via chemical and instrumental analysis, and then the impact of FCP on immunomodulation activity in vitro and in vivo was examined. Structural characteristics showed that the molecular weight of the FCP sample was determined to be 127.5 kDa; the primary monosaccharides present in the FCP sample were galacturonic acid (GalA), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glc), and xylose (Xyl) at a ratio of 0.321:0.287:0.269:0.091:0.013:0.011. Based on the investigation of in vitro immunomodulatory activity, FCP was found to stimulate the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6, and increased the pinocytic activity of macrophages. Further analysis revealed that FCP activated macrophages by interacting with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Moreover, the in vivo test results indicate that FCP showed a significant increase in serum pro-inflammatory factors in immunosuppressed mice. Overall, this study suggests that FCP has the potential to be utilized as a novel immunomodulator in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive exercise without adequate rest can lead to overtraining syndrome, which manifests a series of side effects, including fatigue, gut dysbiosis, and decremental sports performance. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a plant polysaccharide with numerous health-improving effects, but few studies reported its effects on the gut microbiome, endurance, and strength in an overtraining model. This study assessed the effect of KGM on gut microbiome, endurance, and strength in mice with excessive exercise. Three doses of KGM (1.25, 2.50, and 5.00 mg/mL) were administrated in drinking water to mice during 42 days of a treadmill overtraining program. The results showed that excessive exercise induced a significant microbial shift compared with the control group, while a high dose (5.00 mg/mL) of KGM maintained the microbial composition. The proportion of Sutterella in feces was significantly increased in the excessive exercise group, while the moderate dose (2.50 mg/mL) of KGM dramatically increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and SCFA production in feces. Additionally, the moderate dose and high dose of KGM counteracted the negative effects of excessive exercise on strength or/and endurance (43.14% and 39.94% increase through a moderate dose of KGM, Bonferroni corrected p < 0.05, compared with the excessive exercise group). Therefore, it suggests that KGM could prevent overtraining and improve sports performance in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corbicula fluminea distillate as an important industrial by-product of C. fluminea during steaming process is rich in amino acids, proteins and polysaccharides, showing potential hepatoprotective effect. In this study, a polysaccharide (CFDP) was obtained from C. fluminea distillate by three-phase partitioning combined with (NH 4) 2 SO 4 precipitation at a saturation of 60 %. The structural characteristics, antioxidant activity in vitro , and hepatoprotection against mice CCl 4 -induced acute liver damage of CFDP were studied. Results demonstrated that CFDP was a water-soluble homogenous polysaccharide predominantly comprising glucose (>98 %), with a weight-average molecular weight of 1.4 × 107 Da, and exhibiting potent antioxidant benefits in vitro. CFDP had a backbone of (1 → 4)-α- d -glucopyranosyl (Glc p) and a small amount of (1 → 4, 6)-α-D-Glc p. The branch formed at C-6 comprised by (1→)-α-D-Glc p and (1→)-α-D- N -acetylglucosamine. CFDP possessed excellent hepatoprotective activity against acute liver damage caused by CCl 4 in mice, mainly by ameliorating weight reduction and organ injures, alleviating hepatic function and serum lipid metabolism, suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, as directly verified by histopathological examination. Moreover, CFDP improved gut microbiota by up-regulating the relative abundance of total bacteria and probiotics such as Firmicutes , Bacteroidete , Rumminococcaceae , Lactobacillaceae , accompanied by promoting short chain fatty acid production. Therefore, our findings indicated that CFDP can be developed as a healthy food supplement for the prevention of chemical livery injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three polysaccharides (BGPs: BGPs-Z21, BGPs-Z23, and BGPs-Z31) were successively extracted from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grasses (BG) at different growth stages, including seedling (Z21), tillering (Z23), and stem elongation (Z31). The effects of in vitro simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion on the physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of BGPs were investigated and compared. Results showed that the simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion had considerable influences on reducing sugar content, chemical components, monosaccharide constituents, and molecular weights of BGPs but hardly affected their preliminarily structural characteristics. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of BGPs were weakened after the simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion, but their bile acid-binding capacities were remarkably enhanced. The digested BGPs-Z31 by gastric juice possessed better antioxidant benefit, and bile acid-binding capacity (80.33 %) than other digested products. Overall, these results indicated that BGPs obtained from BG are valuable for functional foods as promising bioactive ingredients. • Polysaccharides (BGPs) were obtained from barley grasses at different growth stages. • Simulated digestion had important influences on physicochemical properties of BGPs. • Digestion enhanced bile acid-binding ability of BGPs, but reduced the antioxidation. • The gastric-digested BGPs showed better bioactivities than other digested products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to investigate the antibacterial effects and metabolites derived from bifidobacterial fermentation of an exopolysaccharide EPS-LM produced by a medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis , Cs-HK1. EPS-LM was a partially purified polysaccharide fraction which was mainly composed of Man, Glc and Gal at 7.31:12.95:1.00 mol ratio with a maximum molecular weight of 360 kDa. After fermentation of EPS-LM in two bifidobacterial cultures, B. breve and B. longum , the culture digesta showed significant antibacterial activities, inhibiting the proliferation and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli. Based on untargeted metabolomic profiling of the digesta, the levels of short chain fatty acids, carboxylic acids, benzenoids and their derivatives were all increased significantly (p < 0.01), which probably contributed to the enhanced antibacterial activity by EPS-LM. Since EPS-LM was only slightly consumed for the bifidobacterial growth, it mainly stimulated the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites in the bifidobacterial cells. The results also suggested that EPS-LM polysaccharide may have a regulatory function on the bifidobacterial metabolism leading to production of antibacterial metabolites, which may be of significance for further exploration. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explored the use of magnetic-induced electric field (MIEF) treatment at various excitation voltages to assist three-phase partitioning (TPP) methods in extracting and separating pectic polysaccharides (PFPs) from the peel of fresh passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa). The findings indicated that applying MIEF treatment prior to TPP separation significantly reduced the total sugar and galacturonic acid contents, as well as the degree of esterification of PFPs, with increasing excitation voltage. This treatment notably enhanced their yields and molecular weights. Although the MIEF treatment did not alter the monosaccharide composition of PFPs, it significantly modified their molar ratios of monosaccharides, thereby altering the backbone structure and neutral sugar side chains, which resulted in varied microstructures. Furthermore, especially at higher excitation voltages (≥300 V), the MIEF treatment improved the thermal stability, rheological, and emulsifying properties of PFPs. Consequently, our data suggest that the MIEF-assisted TPP method is a promising approach for the efficient and environmentally friendly preparation of pectic polysaccharides from plant materials. [Display omitted] • Magnetic-induced electric field (MIEF)-assisted three-phase partitioning was set up. • MIEF effectively increased the yield of passion fruit peel polysaccharides (PFPs). • MIEF treatment obviously affected physicochemical and structural properties of PFPs. • MIEF treatment at a high excitation voltage improved functional properties of PFPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are natural polymer compounds widely distributed in plants, animals, and microorganisms, most of which have a broad spectrum of biological activities to promote human health. They could also be used as texture modifiers in food industry due to their excellent rheological and mechanical properties. Many researchers have shown that nonthermal processing technologies have numerous advantages, such as high extraction efficiency, short extraction time, and environmental friendliness, in the extraction of polysaccharides compared with the traditional extraction methods. Moreover, nonthermal technologies could effectively change the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of polysaccharides to improve their biological activities or processing properties. Therefore, a comprehensive summary about the extraction and modification of polysaccharides by nonthermal technologies, including ultrasound, high hydrostatic pressure, pulsed electric fields, and cold plasma, was provided in this review. In particular, the underlying mechanisms, processing operations, and current application status of these technologies were discussed. In addition, the applications of combining nonthermal techniques with other technological methods in polysaccharide extraction and modification were briefly introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a big trend has been the development of rapid, green, efficient, economical, and scalable approaches for the separation and purification of bioactive molecules from natural sources, which can be used in food, cosmetics, and medicine. As a new nonchromatographic bioseparation technology, three-phase partitioning (TPP) is attracting the attention of a growing number of scientists and engineers. Although a number of studies have been published in the last 40 years regarding the extraction, separation, and purification of numerous bioactive molecules using TPP systems, a background review on TPP partitioning fundamentals and its applications is much needed. Therefore, the present review focuses in detail on the TPP separation process, including the definition of TPP, partitioning mechanisms, parameters for establishing the suitable condition to form precipitate such as concentration of ammonium sulfate, content of tert-butanol, pH and temperature, and the application for separation and purification of protein, enzyme, plant oil, polysaccharide, and other small molecule organic compounds. In addition, the possible directions of future developments in TPP technology are discussed. The review presents a good opportunity, as well as a challenge for scientists, to understand the detailed partitioning rule and to take better use of TPP for the production and separation of various bioactive molecules, which have been intensively applied in the food and medical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, hot water, 0.9% NaCl, citric acid, and 1.25 M NaOH/0.05% NaBH 4 were separately used for the extraction of water-soluble H . erinaceus polysaccharides (HEPs; HEP-W, HEP-S, HEP-C, and HEP-A) from the fruit body of Hericium erinaceus . The physicochemical properties and biological activities were then investigated and compared. Results showed that the extraction solvents exhibited significant effects on the extraction yields, molecular weights, monosaccharide compositions, preliminary structural characteristics, microstructures of HEPs and on their contents, such as neutral sugar, uronic acid, protein, and β-(1 → 3)-glucan. In vitro antioxidant activity assays indicated that HEP-C extracted with citric acid solution showed stronger scavenging abilities on hydroxyl and DPPH radicals and antioxidant capacities than HEP-W and HEP-S. Moreover, HEP-C exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on α-glycosidase and α-amylase activities. Therefore, HEP-C extracted with citric acid can be developed as a potential bioactive ingredient for applications in food, medicine, and cosmetics industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel proteoglycan, named CFPS-11, was isolated from Corbicula fluminea , which is a food source of freshwater bivalve mollusk. CFPS-11 had an average molecular weight of 807.7 kDa and consisted of d -glucose and d -glucosamine in a molar ratio of 12.2:1.0. The protein moiety (∼5%) of CFPS-11 was covalently bonded to the polysaccharide chain in O-linkage type through both serine and thereonine residues. The polysaccharide chain of CFPS-11 was composed of (1 → 4)-α- d -glucopyranosyl and (1 → 3,6)-α- d -glucopyranosyl residues, which branched at O-6. The branch chain consisted of (1 → )-α- d -glucopyranosyl and (1 → )-α- d - N -acetylglucosamine residues. CFPS-11 exhibited significant antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and remarkable inhibition activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase by in vitro assays. These findings indicated that the CFPS-11 from C . fluminea has the potential for development as a health food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okra [ Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench], as a well-known medicinal and food plant, has important physiological activities and health benefits, and polysaccharide is its main bioactive component. In this study, a pectic polysaccharide (OPS-50) prepared from fresh okra pods by three-phase partitioning and gradient (NH 4) 2 SO 4 precipitation at a saturation of 50% was employed in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-caused acute liver damage in mice to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential. Results indicated that OPS-50 was mainly composed of a limited linear homogalacturonan backbone and abundant rhamnogalacturonan-I domains as side chains. OPS-50 exerted positively protective effects on acute liver damage induced by CCl 4 in mice through relieving weight reduction and organ damage, ameliorating liver function and dyslipidemia, alleviating oxidative stress, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulating gut microbiota, and promoting short-chain fatty acid secretion. Moreover, liver histopathology demonstrated the protective benefit of OPS-50 on CCl 4 -caused acute liver damage in mice. Therefore, our data suggested that the pectic OPS-50, as a dietary supplement, have great potential in preventing and treating chemical liver damages. [Display omitted] • An antioxidant pectic polysaccharide (OPS-50) obtained from fresh okra pods. • OPS-50 had a short linear homogalacturonan and abundant rhamnogalacturonan-I domain. • OPS-50 ameliorates liver damage by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation. • OPS-50 beneficially regulates intestinal microbiota in mice with acute liver injury. • OPS-50 relieves liver injury by elevating the secretion of short-chain fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, three water-soluble polysaccharides (PS-D1, PS-D2, and PS-D3) isolated and purified from Pueraria lobata roots were characterized and their biological activities were evaluated. Results showed that PS-D1 was a neutral heteropolysaccharide comprised glucose and fructose in a molar ratio of 24.4:1.0 with a weight-average molecular weight ( M w ) of 62 kDa, while PS-D2 and PS-D3 were both acidic heteropolysaccharides consisting of glucose, fructose, arabinose and glucose, fructose, galactose, arabinose in a molar ratio of 54.5:1.0:1.0 and 61.0:1.0:2.7:2.4 with M w s of 159 and 385 kDa, respectively. Amongst of them, PS-D3 had the highest uronic acid content (∼12.4%), carbohydrate content (∼88.9%) and M w . All the three polysaccharides exhibited as random coils or large aggregates in aqueous solution. In vitro antioxidant activity tests indicated that PS-D3 showed the strongest scavenging capacities on hydroxyl (79.6%) and DPPH (60%) radicals at 3.0 mg/ml, and exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of 53.8 µmol Trolox/g and a ferric reducing ability of plasma of 56.9 µmol Fe 2+ /g. Moreover, the inhibitory activity on advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation of PS-D3 was 59.1% at 0.8 mg/ml. These results indicated that PS-D3 with prominent antioxidant capability showed pronounced non-enzymatic glycation inhibition activity in vitro . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (PLP1-I) was purified from Phellinus linteus mycelia through hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and chromatography on DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephacryl S-400 HR columns. PLP1-I was characterized as a neutral heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose and galactose at a molar ratio of 8.9:1.0, with an average molecular weight ( M w ) of ∼290,000 kDa. The structure of PLP1-I consists of a (1→4)-α-D-glucopyranose backbone, whereas the (1→3)-α-D-galactopyranosyl residues formed branches at the O-6 position with 1-linked-α- d -glucopyranosyl terminal residues. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity in vivo showed that PLP1-I administration significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde in the serum and liver of aging mice induced with D-galactose. PLP1-I also effectively stimulated the immune system of aging mice. This study demonstrated that PLP1-I exhibited strong antioxidant activities in vivo and could be explored as a potential antioxidant for functional food and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seven polysaccharides (BGPs) are extracted from barley grass at three growth stages. • Different growth stages obviously affected physicochemical properties of these BGPs. • These BGPs had similar structural characteristics but different thermal stabilities. • BGP-Z12 and BGP-Z21 obtained at seedling stage showed more excellent bioactivities. Barley grass polysaccharides (BGPs) are some of the major bioactive constituents of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grass (BG). They exhibit favorable biological activities and health benefits. In this study, seven BGPs were extracted from BG, which was harvested at three different growth stages (e.g., seedling, tillering, and stem elongation), by alkaline-extraction method. Their physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, and biological activities were investigated and compared. Results demonstrated that the extraction yields, chemical compositions, monosaccharide constituents, and molecular weights of the seven BGPs obtained at different growth stages varied obviously. These BGPs had similar preliminary structural characteristics but different microstructures and thermal properties. Furthermore, the BGPs (BGP-Z12 and BGP-Z21) obtained at the seedling stage possessed stronger in vitro antioxidant potentials, cholic acid binding activity, and immunological activity than other BGPs. Therefore, these results indicated that that the seedling stage of BG was the preferable harvest time for preparing highly bioactive BGPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) based on the hydrophilic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C 4 mim]Cl) and inorganic salts (K 3 PO 4 and K 2 HPO 4 ) was employed to separate Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharides (CSPS) and proteins by a single-step procedure. The maximum extraction efficiencies of CSPS and proteins were 89.4% and 88.2%, respectively, as obtained with the [C 4 mim]Cl/K 3 PO 4 system at 25 °C and pH 13.0 under optimal conditions. The partially purified CSPS obtained from the bottom salt-rich phase comprised glucose, mannose, and galactose at a molar ratio of 10:3.5:1. The backbone of CSPS mainly comprised α-1,4-linked- d -glucose residues with a molecular weight of 2.3 × 10 7 Da. The results of this study suggest that ILATPS is an efficient and environmentally friendly system that will highlight novel possibilities in the large-scale separation and purification of active polysaccharides from fungi or mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corbicula fluminea distillate (CFD), as an industrial sub-product of the steaming process of C. fluminea , is rich in polysaccharides, proteins, and amino acids and has important developmental value. In this study, therefore, three water-soluble polysaccharides (CFDPs: CFDP-D, CFDP-U, and CFDP-T) were extracted and separated from CFD through direct ethanol precipitation, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and three-phase partitioning (TPP), respectively. Results demonstrated that the three extraction methods had important influences on extraction yields, chemical compositions, molecular weights, monosaccharide and amino acid constituents, structural characteristics, and microstructures as well as biological activities of CFDPs. Specifically, CFDP-T had higher yield (60.92% ± 3.58%), carbohydrate content (91.05% ± 1.22%), and uronic acid content (8.55% ± 0.18%) and lower protein content (7.15% ± 0.15%) than CFDP-D and CFDP-U. The three CFDPs were acidic proteoheteroglycans combined through O -glycosidic bonds and had high molecular weights of 1.93–2.41 × 107 Da and the same monosaccharide and amino acid compositions but different contents. Compared with CFDP-D and CFDP-U, CFDP-T exhibited more excellent free radical scavenging and stimulating (1.57 ± 0.03 μM, 500 μg/mL) activities on RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Therefore, our findings suggested that CFDP-T obtained from CFD by TPP had the potential to be a functional food ingredient in food industry. • Three polysaccharides (CFDPs) were separately prepared from C. fluminea distillate. • Extraction methods have obvious effects on physicochemical characteristics of CFDPs. • CFDPs are proteoheteroglycans via O -glycosidic linkages with high molecular weights. • CFDP-T obtained by TPP shows stronger bioactivities in vitro than CFDP-D and CFDP-U. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and as-synthesized silver nanoparticles (Oc-AgNPs) by using 4-acetamido-TEMPO-oxidized curdlan (Oc), as a reducing and stabilizing agent, was studied through fluorescence quenching method, ultraviolet visible spectrum (UV-Vis), and circular dichroism measurement. The results presented clearly indicate that the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA molecule was effectively quenched after the interaction with Oc-AgNPs by a static mechanism, which is further confirmed by UV-Vis analysis. The apparent binding constant (K), number of binding sites ( n), and dissociation equilibrium constant (K) were calculated to be 7.5 × 10 M, 1.03, and 3.0 ± 0.6 μM, respectively. Furthermore, a conformational change of BSA was also observed when the Oc-AgNPs-BSA interactant formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary yeast polysaccharides on some hematologic parameters and intestinal morphology of channel catfish. Channel catfish were fed diets containing yeast polysaccharides at 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 % for 7 weeks. Each diet was provided to 10 channel catfish specimens (5.82 ± 0.13 g initial weight) replicated 3 times in individual 250 L fiberglass tanks. Some hematologic parameters, leukocyte phagocytic activity, and intestinal morphology were monitored. After 7 weeks of trial, 0.2 % yeast polysaccharides resulted in significantly higher ( P < 0.05) monocyte numbers. Furthermore, fish fed 0.2 % yeast polysaccharide diet had higher ( P < 0.05) phagocytic rate of leukocyte. And 0.3 % yeast polysaccharide enhanced ( P < 0.05) phagocytic index of leukocyte. Histological evaluation showed yeast polysaccharide supplementation increased the height of intestine fold (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 %) and the thick of muscular layers (0.2 %) in intestine ( P < 0.05). In addition, 0.1 and 0.3 % yeast polysaccharide supplementation improved the number of goblet cells ( P < 0.05). The results of this trial indicate that yeast polysaccharides supplementation could affect blood monocytes, improve leukocytes phagocytic activity, and the development of intestine in channel catfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To isolate high-quality total RNA from Fallopia multiflora tuberous roots is difficult because of the presence of high levels of carbohydrates, phenolics, and other secondary metabolites. Since several procedures specialized for RNA isolation from polysaccharides and phenols rich tissues have resulted in poor yields, in this study, we developed a modified protocol that was derived from the traditional CTAB method. The protocol was able to produce high-quality and intact RNA from the tuberous roots of F. multiflora. The yield of total RNA was more than 0.15 mg/g fresh weight, with an A260/A280 ratio of 1.9–2.0. The obtained RNA was of sufficient quality and suitable for downstream application such as reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern hybridization, and cDNA library construction. The protocol may also have wider applicability for total RNA isolation from other plant species with tuberous roots. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Two novel polysaccharides, WIPS and AIPS, were isolated and fractionated respectively from hot water and alkaline extracts of the mycelial biomass of a medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis (strain Cs-HK1). Through analytical and degradation experiments, WIPS and AIPS were characterized as α-d-glucans with a backbone of (1→4)-linked α-d-Glcp (>60%) and very similar molecular weights (M w : WIPS 1180kDa; AIPS 1150kDa). WIPS had a short branch of (1→6)-linked α-d-Glcp (∼14%), but AIPS was a linear glucan, distinctive from the branched structures of most glucans from medicinal fungi. In aqueous alkaline solutions, both AIPS and WIPS exhibited a random coil structure with the similar conformational parameters but significantly different polydispersity indexes, 0.19 versus 0.37. AIPS exhibited much more significant antitumor and immuno-stimulatory effects than WIPS in animal tests on melanoma tumor-bearing mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An exopolysaccharide (EPS) fraction isolated from mycelial culture of a Cordyceps sinensis fungus, designated EPS-1 with an average molecular weight (MW) of 38kDa, was hydrolysed in dilute sulphuric acid solution at pH 1 and 90°C, yielding two major MW fractions, 3.0kDa and 30kDa, respectively. While the proportion of lower MW fraction increased with the hydrolysis period (18% in 0.5h and 92% in 10h), the polydispersity (M w/M n) of EPS decreased steadily (from 1.47 initially to 1.10 in 10h). The IR spectra of hydrolysed EPS fractions showed changes only in the C–O–C and C–O–H band peaks from that of EPS-1. These results suggest that the hydrolysis of EPS in the acidic solution caused the EPS degradation mainly by cleaving the glycosidic linkage but no change in the primary molecular structure. The hydrolysed EPS fractions had much higher (30–80%) antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methanolysis of biomass has attracted increasing attention due to it has some advantages, such as low critical points and strong hydrogen donation ability. In this paper, methanolysis of cellulose, cellobiose (sucrose), and monosaccharide (glucose) were performed to obtain methanol-soluble portions (MSPs). The relatively volatile or less polar species in the MSPs were analyzed with a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), and the polar species were identified with a negative-ion electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FTICRMS). According to analysis with GC/MS, the MSPs include ethers, esters, ketones, acids, sugars, phenols, and furans. The analysis with FTICRMS shows that the polar compounds in the MSPs are O 1 – O 15 class species with 1–14 double bond equivalent (DBE) and 5–35 carbon atom number (CAN). The most abundant class species in MSPs from cellulose, sucrose, and glucose methanolysis are O 5 , O 7 , and O 7 , respectively. The species in MSPs from sucrose and glucose methanolysis center at higher DBE value and more CAN than those in MSP from cellulose methanolysis. Meanwhile, the oxygen atom number of O 4 – O 10 class species in the MSPs were negatively correlated with the average DBE value. The results indicate that condensation intensively proceeded with the specific regularity during sucrose and glucose methanolysis. • More than 1000 species derived from cellulose, cellobiose, and monosaccharide were detected. • Significant differences exist in the methanol-soluble portions. • Condensation strongly occurred during cellobiose and monosaccharide methanolysis. • Methanolysis may be a potential way for converting cellulose into chemicals or fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phellinus spp. is one of the largest genera of Hymenochaetaceae with approximately 220 species, such as P. vaninii , P. buamii , P. linteus , and P. igniarius , these species are considered as precious food supplements and medicinal ingredients in China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries for over 2000 years. Phellinus spp. contains abundant bioactive polysaccharides and other key components (e.g., phenolics, terpenes, steroids, etc.). Pharmacological investigations have confirmed that bioactive polysaccharides and other important secondary metabolites from Phellinus spp. possess multiple health-promoting benefits, including antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. However, comprehensive evaluations on the preparation and structural characteristics, bioactivities, and toxicology of these functional components (e.g., polysaccharides, phenolics, terpenes, steroids) from various Phellinus spp. species are very limited, which may restrict the practical application of Phellinus spp. This review summarizes the physicochemical characteristics, pharmacological activities, and possible mechanisms of bioactive components from Phellinus spp. according to published studies from 2017 to 2022. It also surveyed the toxicological assessment for safety and applications of different Phellinus spp. species. This review aims to provide useful references and promising directions for the comprehensive development and utilization of Phellinus spp. in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PFP-T and PFP-UM were slightly degraded after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. • PFP-T and PFP-UM were obviously degraded and utilized by intestinal microorganisms. • PFP-T and PFP-UM effectively stimulated the proliferation of beneficial bacteria. • PFP-T yielded higher SCFAs content and had better prebiotic potential than PFP-UM. In this study, two pectic polysaccharides (PFP-T and PFP-UM) were extracted from fresh passion fruit peels using three-phase partitioning (TPP) and sequential ultrasound-microwave-assisted TPP methods, respectively, and their effects on the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and fecal fermentation characteristics were examined. The results indicate that gastrointestinal digestion has a minimal effect on the physicochemical and structural characteristics of PFP-T and PFP-UM. However, during in vitro fecal fermentation, both undigested PFP-T and PFP-UM are significantly degraded and utilized by intestinal microorganisms, showing increased the total relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in the intestinal flora. Notably, compared with PFP-UM, PFP-T better promoted the reproduction of beneficial bacteria such as Prevotella , Megasphaera and Dialister , while suppressed the growth of harmful genera including Escherichia-Shigella , producing higher content of short-chain fatty acids. Therefore, our findings suggest that PFP-T derived from passion fruit peel has potential as a dietary supplement for promoting intestinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Softening is one of the crucial factors causing the deterioration of postharvest fruit quality. In this study, the effects of konjac glucomannan/low-acyl gellan gum/microcapsule of thymol (TKL) coating on the storage characteristics, the ultrastructure of cell wall and transcription expression of pectin-related metabolism of blueberries fruits during low-temperature storage were investigated. TKL coating suppressed the expression of pectin-related enzymes disassembly (VaPE 2 , VaPE 3 , VaPG 3 , VaPL 2 and Vaβ-Gal 2), reduced the activity of cell wall polysaccharide degrading enzymes (PG, PE, PL, β-Gal, α-Man, α-Af, Xth, β-Xyl, Cx, β-Glu), maintained the normal morphological structure and stability of cell wall, and prolonged the shelf life of blueberries fruits. Overall, TKL is a promising coating that can effectively maintain the firmness, inhibit the postharvest softening and prolong the shelf life of the blueberries during storage period. • The TKL treatment delayed the quality deterioration of postharvest blueberries. • The enzyme activities of cell wall disassembly were effectively prevented by TKL coating. • The TKL coating suppressed the expression levels of pectin-related genes. • The molecular degradation of WSP and NSP was inhibited according to the TKL treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Polysaccharide isolated from Phellinus linteus (PLP). • PLP inhibits inflammatory cytokine expressions in cell and animal inflammation model. • PLP inhibits MAPK pathway and NF-κB and AP-1 activation in the inflammatory response. • PLP inhibited PPAR pathway and it exists cross-talk between MAPK and PPAR pathways. Abstract In the present study, the anti-inflammatory function of Phellinus linteus polysaccharide (PLP) was investigated in animal and cell inflammation models, and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of PLP was also explored. Sixty 8-week ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, and DSS group and DSS + PLP group mice received 2.0% DSS and PLP was orally administered at 500 mg/kg/day. Our data showed that PLP administration obviously improved the health status of mice and inhibited DSS-induced pathological alterations and significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine expressions in the colonic tissues. In lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation cell model, PLP supplement also significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine expressions and inhibited MAPK pathway as well as the translocations of NF-κB and AP-1. Meanwhile, PLP supplement regulated PPARα and PPARγ phosphorylation and blocked MAPK activation. Taken together, PLP exhibits anti-inflammatory function and its molecular mechanism may be involved in MAPK and PPAR signal pathways, which reduce the expressions of inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, four pectic polysaccharides (PFP-T, PFP-U, PFP-M, and PFP-UM) were obtained from fresh passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa L.) peel by three-phase partitioning (TPP), ultrasound assisted TPP (U-TPP), microwave assisted TPP (M-TPP), and sequential ultrasound-microwave assisted TPP (UM-TPP) methods, respectively. Results demonstrated that ultrasound/microwave treatments before TPP separation obviously affected the yields, physicochemical properties, and structural characteristics of these pectic polysaccharides, and improved their rheological properties. The PFP-U obtained by U-TPP had the highest molar mass (436.9 × 103 g mol−1), the shortest homogalacturonan backbone, and the most rhamnogalacturonan side chains with a relatively rigid chain and possessed the best thermal stability and viscoelastic behavior. The PFP-UM obtained through UM-TPP showed the highest contents of total sugar (74.88%) and uronic acid (68.22%) with a flexible random coil, and exhibited the best steady-state fluid property. Therefore, our findings provide a promising technical strategy for producing pectic polysaccharides with desired functionalities from fresh fruit peels. [Display omitted] • Pectic polysaccharides (PFPs) were obtained from fresh yellow passion fruit peel. • Three-phase partitioning (TPP)-based methods affected structural properties of PFPs. • Ultrasound/microwave treatments improve thermal and rheological properties of PFPs. • TPP-based methods as excellent technologies can be used to produce functional PFPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) were extracted from cultured mycelia of Phellinus igniarius. The IPS were purified by ethanol fractional precipitation, ion-exchange and size exclusion chromatography in that order. Homogeneous polysaccharide IPSW-1, IPSW-2, IPSW-3, and IPSW-4 were obtained, which molecular characteristics were examined using multiangle laser-light scattering and refractive index detector system. The average molecular weights of them were 34.1, 17.7, 15.1, 21.7 kDa, respectively. GC analysis indicated that IPSW-1, IPSW-2 and IPSW-3 all only contained glucose, while IPSW-4 was composed of rhamnose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 1.29:1.21:1:43.86:1.86. UV and IR analysis suggested they belonged to α-type of the pyran group and didn’t contain protein. These homogeneous polysaccharides could inhibit the growth of SW480 and HepG2 cells to a certain extent in a dose-dependent manner. So they could be beneficial for the further development of a natural carcinoma preventive agent and functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]