Characterisation of oligosaccharides from Baizhu by HILIC-MS

Abstract

Polysaccharides from Baizhu were separated by preparative hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography on an XAmide column and its components were characterised as inulin-type polysaccharides with structures of α-D-glucopyranosyl-[-(1 → 2) -β-D-fructofuranosyl-]_n − 1-(1 → 2) -β-D-fructofuranoside (n = 3–20) by a combinatory application of electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and IR, as well as the chemical analysis of monosaccharide composition. In addition, the contents of nystose and 1F-fructofranosylnystose in the crude and purified Baizhu polysaccharides were determined to be 5.81%, 4.92% and 0.70%, 0.84% (w/w), respectively. In addition, MTT assay indicated that the Baizhu polysaccharides could effectively promote spleen lymphocyte transformation for the enhancement of organism immunity. It is for the first time that inulin-type polysaccharides were discovered in Baizhu and its immuno-enhancing activity was reported, which is a vigorous evidence to explain the efficacy of Baizhu.

Keywords::

• Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz
• inulin-type oligosaccharides
• XAmide column
• spleen lymphocyte transformation

Notes

^1. The first two authors contributed equally to this article.

Additional information

Funding

The research project was supported by grants of 973 National Basic Research Program of China [grant number 2013CB531803] and Program for Liaoning Innovate Research Team in University [grant number LT2013020]. None of the authors declare any conflict of interests in this study.