Antioxidant and moisture-retention activities of the polysaccharide from Nostoc commune

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 1821 - 1827
• Main Authors: Li, Haifeng, Xu, Juan, Liu, Yongmei, Ai, Shibin, Qin, Fen, Li, Zhangwei, Zhang, Hanrui, Huang, Zebo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antioxidant; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Caenorhabditis elegans; chitosan; enzyme activity; Exact sciences and technology; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; hydroxyl radicals; lipid peroxidation; Medical sciences; mice; Moisture absorption; Moisture retention; Natural polymers; Nostoc commune; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; polymers; Polysaccharide; Starch and polysaccharides; superoxide anion; urea; Caenorhabditis elegans; Nostoc commune; Moisture absorption; Antioxidant; Polysaccharide; Moisture retention; Oxidative stress; Caenorhahditis elegans; Experimental study; In vitro; Biological activity; In vivo; Radical trapping; Scavenging efficiency; Microbial origin; Animal; Cyanobacteria; Moisture regain; Hydroxyl radicals; Bacteria; Oside polymer; Superoxide radicals; Kinetics; Water holding capacity
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.10.046

The main supporting matrix of the edible Nostoc commune colony is polysaccharide, which plays important roles in protecting the cyanobacterium itself from extreme desiccation and high radiation. To explore biomedical potential from the inherent nature of the polysaccharide, we investigated antioxidant and moisture-retention capacities of the polymer. We report here that the polysaccharide is capable of scavenging both superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. Using the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans, we further show that the polysaccharide can increase antioxidant enzyme activity, decrease lipid peroxidation level, and reduce paraquat-induced oxidative damage. We also reveal that the polysaccharide has strong in vitro moisture-absorption and -retention capacities as compared to chitosan and urea, and is able to improve water retention in mouse stratum corneum under dry conditions. Together, these data demonstrate the potent in vitro as well as in vivo antioxidant activities and strong moisture-retention capacities of the polysaccharide from N. commune.