Optimized Extraction of Polysaccharides from <i>Bergenia</i> <i>emeiensis</i> Rhizome, Their Antioxidant Ability and Protection of Cells from Acrylamide-induced Cell Death

• Main Authors: Chen Zeng, Shiling Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: <i>Bergenia emeiensis</i>; polysaccharides; optimization; RSM; acrylamide-induced damage
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/976

<i>Bergenia</i><i>emeiensis</i> is a traditional herb in Chinese folk medicine. Most related studies are focused on the bioactivity of bergenin, neglecting other bioactive compounds. In our previous work, polysaccharides were identified in <i>B. emeiensis</i> rhizome. To evaluate the extraction process and the antioxidant ability of these polysaccharides, a response surface method and antioxidant assays were applied. The results showed that the yield of polysaccharides was highly affected by extraction time, followed by temperature and solvent-to-sample ratio. Under the optimal conditions (43 °C, 30 min and 21 mL/g), the yield was 158.34 ± 0.98 mg/g. After removing other impurities, the purity of the polysaccharides from <i>B. emeiensis</i> (PBE) was 95.97 ± 0.92%. The infrared spectrum showed that PBE had a typical polysaccharide structure. Further investigations exhibited the PBE could scavenge well DPPH and ABTS free radicals and chelate Fe²⁺, showing an excellent antioxidant capacity. In addition, PBE also enhanced the cell viability of HEK 239T and Hep G2 cells under acrylamide-exposure conditions, exhibiting great protection against the damage induced by acrylamide. Therefore, PBE can be considered a potential natural antioxidant candidate for use in the pharmaceutical industry as a health product.