Composition of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides and their apoptosis-inducing effect on human
hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells
Sammanfattning
Background: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is a natural functional component that has a
variety of biological activities. The molecular structures and apoptosis-inducing activities on human
hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells of two LBP fractions, LBP-d and LBP-e, were investigated.
Results: The results showed that LBP-d and LBP-e both consist of protein, uronic acid, and neutral
sugars in different proportions. The structure of LBP was characterized by gas chromatography,
periodate oxidation, and Smith degradation. LBP-d was composed of eight kinds of monosaccharides
(fucose, ribose, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, and glucose), while LBP-e was
composed of six kinds of monosaccharides (fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, galactose, and
glucose). LBP-d and LBP-e blocked SMMC-7721 cells at the G0/G1 and S phases with an inhibition
ratio of 26.70 and 45.13%, respectively, and enhanced the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm of
SMMC-7721.
Conclusion: The contents of protein, uronic acid, and galactose in LBP-e were much higher than those
in LBP-d, which might responsible for their different bioactivities. The results showed that LBP can be
provided as a potential chemotherapeutic agent drug to treat cancer.