Hypoglycemic activity in vitro of polysaccharides from Camellia oleifera Abel. seed cake

We isolated and purified polysaccharide from the Camellia oleifera Abel. seed cake (CCP) and studied its hypoglycemic activity in vitro. The molecular weight of CCP was 4736 Da and the monosaccharide molar composition ratio was: Xylose:Glucuronic acid:Galactosamine:Mannose = 10.9:4.4:2.6:1.8. The CCP contained conjugated proteins and belonged to acidic polysaccharide, which can promote the consumption of the glucose in the medium by HepG2 cells within the range of 0.125-0.500 mg/mL. Relative consumption rate (RCR) of the glucose was the highest at 0.5 mg/mL, exceeded that of the metformin hydrochloride, as well as that of Tea Polysaccharide under the same concentration. A meaningful structure activity relationship (SAR) of hypoglycemia polysaccharides had established. This result suggests that CCP can be used as hypoglycemic medicine or health food.