Hepatoprotective effect of polysaccharide isolated from Sonneratia apetala fruits on acetaminophen-induced liver injury mice

Sonneratia apetala fruits are edible and medicinal. Our previous report demonstrated that the S. apetala fruits extract had the hepatoprotective activity. In the study, an acidic polysaccharide named SAP-2 was isolated and purified from S. apetala fruits. The preliminary structure of SAP-2 was characterized, and its hepatoprotective effect and the mechanism of action in Nrf2 signaling pathway were also evaluated in acetaminophen (acetyl-para-aminophenol, APAP)-induced liver damaged mice. Results manifested that SAP-2 could alleviate histological changes, inhibit oxidative stress and enhance antioxidant system via activating of Nrf2 signaling pathway on APAP-induced hepatic injury. These results indicated that S. apetala fruits could be developed into a new source of potential natural antioxidant and functional food for hepatoprotection.