Structural characterization of a novel neutral polysaccharide from Lentinus giganteus and its antitumor activity through inducing apoptosis

• A novel neutral polysaccharide (LGPS-1) was purified from Lentinus giganteus.
• LGPS-1 had pyranose rings and α-configuration glycosidic bond residues.
• The backbone of LGPS-1 was possibly composed of Gal and Man.
• LGPS-1 could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells.
• LGPS-1 induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells through intrinsic signaling pathways.

A novel neutral polysaccharide (LGPS-1), with a molecular weight of 1.547 × 105 Da, was isolated from Lentinus giganteus by precipitation and purification. The monosaccharides included d-mannose (Man), d-glucose (Glc) and d-galactose (Gal) with a molar ratio of 3.0:4.1:7.1. The backbone of LGPS-1 was composed of 1,6-Galp and 1,3,6-Manp whereas the branches were composed of 1,6-Glcp and 1-Glcp. The anticancer efficacy of LGPS-1 was assessed using HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The results showed that LGPS-1 inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells and also induced the activation of caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP-1. Western blot analysis revealed that LGSP-1 significantly induced a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δym), increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, promoted the release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm as well as inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt in HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that LGPS-1 induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells through intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.