The estrogen‑like protective effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in reducing oxidative stress on myocardial cells from ovariectomized rats

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that ovariectomy may lead to a reduction in antioxidative biomarkers in the myocardium, thus suggesting that estrogens may serve a protective role in the suppression of oxidative stress. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) are a well-known antioxidant Chinese traditional medicine, which appear to have a similar function to estrogens with regards to the regulation of cardiac function. In the present study, 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham operation group, ovariectomized (OVX) group, estradiol valerate group, high-dose LBP (LBP-H) group and low-dose LBP (LBP-L) group. All of the rats were provided tap water, estradiol valerate or LBP for 12 weeks. In addition, all rats were ovariectomized, with the exception of rats in the sham operation group, which underwent fat removal only. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase activities were subsequently examined. The protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3 and phosphorylated-protein kinase B (p-Akt) were also assessed. The results demonstrated that high-dose LBP decreased the enhanced levels of ROS and MDA in OVX rats, whereas GSH-px and CAT activities were increased in the LBP-H group compared with in OVX rats. Furthermore, the expression levels of cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly upregulated in the OVX group, whereas high-dose LBP exerted protective effects on OVX rats by decreasing the expression of apoptotic proteins. Conversely, p-Akt expression was decreased in the OVX group and was increased in the LBP-H group. These results indicated that LBP is essentially involved in cardiac protection by inhibiting apoptosis in response to oxidative stress. In addition, improvement of antioxidant status by LBP is associated with the Akt signaling pathway in the myocardium of OVX rats.

Quality Evaluation of Thirteen Geographical Populations of Lycium chinense Using Quantitative Analysis of Nutrients and Bioactive Components

“…Polysaccharides are the most important biologically active compounds in L. chinense; they have extensive biological functions [43,44]. As a key component of L. chinense, polysaccharides are important for maintaining healthy eyes [45,46], preventing protecting cardiac function [47,48] and preventing heart failure and diabetes [49,50]. In our study, the polysaccharide content of L. chinense was consistent with that of L. barbarum, indicating that L. chinense also have potential value as a functional food [39,43].…”

Extraction, Structural Characterization, and Biological Functions of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides: A Review

“…Natural bioactive compounds present good biological activities, such as antioxidant, anticancer, and other functions, because of the broad diversity of structures and functionalities [54,55,56]. As bioactive compounds, LBPs have good antioxidant properties [57,58,59]. Antioxidant activity is mainly contributed by carotenoids, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and its derivatives, and polyphenols [60,61].…”

Nanoparticles Containing Hyaluronan Acid and Astragalus Polysaccharides for Treating Osteoarthritis

“…These bioactivities of polysaccharides are important for organisms, which have become the focus of many research disciplines. As reported, many traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides used alone or combined with other traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides can not only improve the local microcirculation but also reduce the microcirculation intraosseous pressure, scavenge oxygen free radicals, and inhibit synovitis and cartilage apoptosis and abnormal regulation of cytokines [2][3][4][5]. The pathological changes of the immune organs can improve the synovial lesion of the joint and effectively inhibit the inflammation.…”

“…* P < 0 05 compared with the control group; # P < 0 05 compared with the IL-1β group. 4 International Journal of Polymer Science OPN is known as a cytokine related to OA metabolism; it is noncollagen bone matrix glycoprotein that mediates varied kinds of biological behaviors and often presents in the cartilage and synovial fluid of patients with OA [26]. OPN is an inhibitor to inflammatory substances such as IL-1 and NO, thus inhibiting the inflammatory process in cartilage [27].…”