Partial characterization, antioxidant and antitumor activities of polysaccharides from Philomycusbilineatus

• Four polysaccharides (PBP60-A, PBP60-B, PBP60-C and PBP60-D) were purified from slugs (Philomycus bilineatus) by ion-exchange chromatography, and its monosaccharide compositions were studied.
• The antioxidant activities in vitro of polysaccharides from Philomycus bilineatus were studied by ABTS, DPPH, hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and reducing power assay.
• The antitumor activities in vitro of polysaccharides from Philomycus bilineatus against A549 and MCF-7 cells were evaluated by MTT assay.

Four polysaccharides (PBP60-A, PBP60-B, PBP60-C and PBP60-D) were purified from slug (Philomycusbilineatus) by ion-exchange chromatography. The antioxidant activities were studied by ABTS, DPPH, hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and reducing power assay. In vitro antitumor activities were evaluated by MTT assay. Results demonstrated that PBP60-A was mainly composed of Man, Rha, Glc, Gal, Xyl and Fuc in a mole ratio of 6.13:3.08:8.97:5.22:2.46:1.13. PBP60-B was composed of Man, GlcN, Rha, GalN, GlcU, Glc, Gal, Xyl and Fuc in a mole ratio of 0.90:0.31:1.15:0.37:0.24:1.02:3.84:0.93:1.99. PBP60-C and PBP60-D were composed of Man, GlcN, Rha, GalN, GlcU, Glc, Gal, Xyl, Fuc and an unknown monosaccharide. Antioxidant tests indicated that four polysaccharides exhibited significant antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner. PBP60-D presented relative stronger antioxidant activity. PBP60-C showed higher antitumor activity against A549 and MCF-7 cells in vitro. At concentration of500 μg/mL, the antitumor activities of PBP60-C on theA549 and MCF-7 cells were 65.30% and 42.45%, respectively. These results indicated that polysaccharides from Philomycusbilineatus could be explored as potential natural antioxidants and cancer prevention agents.