Structural characterization and hypolipidemic activity of polysaccharides from finger citron

In this study, the structural characterization and hypolipidemic activity in vivo of finger citron polysaccharide (FCP) were investigated. The FCP consisted of [→t)-Ara(f)-(1→], [→5)-Ara(f)-(1→], and [→4)-Gal(p)-UA-(1→] with the molecular weight of 46.35 KDa. FCP significantly decreased the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density cholesterol (LDL-C), phenylpropionate aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and increased the level of high density cholesterol (HDL C) in the serum of mice ( P < 0.05). Besides, FCP could significantly improve the antioxidant enzymes activities and decreased the liver lipid metabolism indexes ( P < 0.05). AMPK/ACC and PPARα/LXRα were used to investigate the hypolipidemic mechanism of FCP, which indicated that FCP could up-regulate the protein and gene levels of AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC), PPARα and LXRα. This study provides an important basis of FCP for inhibiting the occurrence of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipemia and complications.