Three Inulin-Type Fructans from Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. Roots and Their Prebiotic Activity on Bifidobacterium longum

Abstract

Radix Codonopsis, derived from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. Var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T. Shen and Codonopsis tangshen Oliv., has been used as traditional Chinese medicine for improving poor gastrointestinal function, treating gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis in China. Inulin-type fructans are carbohydrates consisting mainly of β (2→1) fructosyl-fructose links in chemical structure and exhibit a range of properties such as prebiotic activity, fat substitutes in low-calorie foods and disease-modifying effects. The prebiotic effects of inulin-type fructans are hypothesized to improve gastrointestinal function through alterations to gut microbiota composition and metabolism. In the present study, three inulin-type fructans with high degree of polymerization (DP = 16, 22, and 31) were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. and their structures were confirmed by MALDI-TOF-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR. The prebiotic activity of these fructans was evaluated by detecting growth stimulation on Bifidobacterium longum. The results demonstrated that three fructans at a concentration of 2.0 g/L exhibited significant growth stimulation on Bifidobacterium longum in a time-dependent manner (p < 0.01). The data indicated that inulin-type fructans in Radix Codonopsis could be used as potential prebiotics.

Characterization of inulin‐type fructans from two species of Radix Codonopsis and their oxidative defense activation and prebiotic activities

“…1). The DPs of CPPN and CTPN obtained in the present study were higher than that of fructan 1 (DP = 15), which was extracted from C. pilosula using an ultrasonic extraction method, 24 and the inulin‐type fructan CPPF (DP av = 6) from C. pilosula Nannf. var.…”

“…When using the same extraction and isolation methods, the yields of crude polysaccharide and neutral components derived from C. tangshen were higher than that derived from C. pilosula . There is a possibility that the difference in extraction and purification methods can lead to a diversity in the yields of neutral polysaccharides 24,33 . Moreover, the yields of CPPN and CTPN were higher than that of fructans from C. pilosula 24 …”

“…There is a possibility that the difference in extraction and purification methods can lead to a diversity in the yields of neutral polysaccharides 24,33 . Moreover, the yields of CPPN and CTPN were higher than that of fructans from C. pilosula 24 …”

“…On the other hand, the growth in probiotics can also play a beneficial role in antioxidant defense 15–17 . At present, several polysaccharides, especially neutral ones, have been reported to show activities via intestinal function, including hypoglycemic effects 18 and antioxidative activity, 19–21 and they also have a good effect on promoting the proliferation of probiotics 22–24 . However, to date, the correlation mechanisms between prebiotic activity and the antioxidative activity of neutral polysaccharides are not clear.…”

Characterization of Inulin-Type Fructan from Platycodon grandiflorus and Study on Its Prebiotic and Immunomodulating Activity

“…The NMR signals were characterized and compared with chemical shift values from literature [20,32,33,34]. The 1 H NMR spectrum of PGF contained a main anomeric proton at 5.29 ppm, belonging to the H1 of terminal linked Glc p (Figure 1A).…”