Isolation, purification, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula and its therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in vitro and in vivo.

Codonopsis pilosula is a famous edible and medicinal plants, in which polysaccharides are recognized as one of the important active ingredients. A neutral polysaccharide (CPP-1) was purified from C. pilosula. The structure was characterized by HPSEC-MALLS-RID, UV, FT-IR, GC–MS, methylation analysis, and NMR. The results showed that CPP-1 was a homogeneous pure polysaccharide, mainly containing fructose and glucose, and a small amount of arabinose. Methylation analysis showed that CPP-1 composed of →1)-Fru f -(2→, Fru f- (1→ and Glc p -(1→ residues. Combined the NMR results the structure of CPP-1 was confirmed as α-D-Glc p -(1 → [2)-β-D-Fru f -(1 → 2)-β-D-Fru f -(1] 26 → 2)-β-D-Fru f with the molecular weight of 4.890 × 103 Da. The model of AML12 hepatocyte fat damage was established in vitro. The results showed that CPP-1 could increase the activity of SOD and CAT antioxidant enzymes and reduce the content of MDA, thus protecting cells from oxidative damage. Subsequently, the liver protective effect of CPP-1 was studied in the mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by the high-fat diet. The results showed that CPP-1 significantly reduced the body weight, liver index, and body fat index of NAFLD mice, and significantly improved liver function. Therefore, CPP-1 should be a potential candidate for the treatment of NAFLD. [Display omitted] • A neutral polysaccharide (CPP-1) was purified from Codonopsis pilosula. • The structural information of CPP-1 was systematically characterized. • CPP-1 protects the AML12 cells by alleviating oxidative damage. • CPP-1 could alleviate liver damage in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]