Structural characterization and effect of activating autophagy and regulating oxidative stress of polysaccharide from fibrous roots of Atractylodes chinensis

The fibrous roots of Atractylodes chinensis are rich in polysaccharides, however, the structure and application of its polysaccharides are still unclear. In this study, a 3.7 kDa inulin-type fructan was purified, which was named ACFP-1. Structural characterization indicated that ACFP-1 was comprised of fructose, arabinose, glucose and galactose. The main chain was →1)- β -Fruf-(2 → 1)- β -Fruf-(2 → linkage type. The branch chain was α -Araf-(1 → 5)- α -Araf-(1 → linkage type, which was connected to the main chain through O-6 of →1,6)- β -Fruf-(2 → glycosidic bond. Activity analysis indicated that ACFP-1 inhibited the generation of ROS in HaCaT cells and AB strain zebrafish. ACFP-1 reduced the positive rate of β-galactosidase and the expression of p53 and p21 protein, restored oxidative stress-induced autophagy inhibition, promoted the expression of LC3II protein, and inhibited the expression of p62 protein in HaCaT cells. These experiments demonstrated antioxidant, anti-aging activity and activation of autophagy of ACFP-1, and ACFP-1 could be used as a potential antioxidant.(补充).