title: Characterization of pumpkin polysaccharides and protective effects on streptozotocin-damaged islet cells.
abstract: The polysaccharides from pumpkin fruit (PP) were obtained and purified by hot-water extraction, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel column chromatography. The physicochemical properties of PP were determined by gel filtration chromatography, gas chromatography, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results indicated that the molecular weight of PP was about 23 kDa and PP was composed of D-Arabinose, D-Mannose, D-Glucose, and D-Galactose with a molar ratio of 1 : 7.79 : 70.32 : 7.05. FTIR and NMR spectra indicated that PP was the polysaccharide containing pyranose ring. Additionally, PP protected islets cells from streptozotocin (STZ) injury in vitro via increasing the levels of super-oxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and reducing the production of NO. The experiment of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction further proved that PP inhibited apoptosis via modulating the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 in STZ-damaged islet cells. In conclusion, PP could be explored as a novel agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Tong
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China. Electronic address: xjlntu@163.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009005:Monosaccharides; D011134:Polysaccharides; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Antiapoptotic action; Antioxidant activity; Polysaccharides; Pumpkin; Streptozotocin