Structural characterization, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of polysaccharides from Sophorae tonkinensis Radix

In current study we present two polysaccharides, STRP1 and STRP2, purified from Sophorae tonkinensis Radix via column chromatography. Structural analyses indicated that STRP1 and STRP2 were consisted of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose and arabinose in a similar molar ratio with main backbones of (1 → 3)-linked-α-d-Gal and (1 → 4)-linked-α-d-Glc, while average molecular weights were 1.30 × 104 and 1.98 × 105 Da, respectively. We observed a strong chelating ability on ferrous ions; substantial radical scavenging activities on DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals in vitro; and significant attenuation on acetaminophen-induced hepatic oxidative damage in mice for STRP1 and STRP2. The promising data on these polysaccharides showcase the need to further develop novel natural antioxidant and liver-protecting drugs.