PRELIMINARY STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTITUMOR ACTIVITIES OF CHINESE CHESTNUT (CASTANEA MOLLISSIMA BLUME) POLYSACCHARIDES

Anew polysaccharide was extracted from Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and further successive purification through DEAF-cellulose 52 and Sephadex G-200 columns. The results showed a single and symmetrical sharp peak, which suggested that purified polysaccharide was homogeneous. The molecular weight was calculated to be 3.28 x 10(5) Da. Monosaccharide analysis revealed that the polysaccharide was composed of rhamnose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and D-galactose in the molar ratio of 1.42%, 13.12%, 22.68%, 1.57%, 9.39%, 21.58%, 30.24%, respectively. There was a dose-dependent relationship with measures of antioxidant activities, viz. capabilities to scavenge free radical superoxide anion free radical, hydrogen peroxides and reducibility. The antitumor activity of the polysaccharide was tested in a cell culture model. The polysaccharide caused a significant dose dependent inhibition on the multiplication of cancer cells.