Preparation, characterization and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide from Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Harald

This study aimed to investigate antioxidant activities of a polysaccharide from Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Harald. F. multiflora polysaccharide (FMP) was prepared and partially characterized by high performance liquid chromatography, fourier transform infrared spectrum and anion chromatography, and its antioxidant activities both in vitro and in vivo were investigated. FMP, with a molecular weight of 17,758 Da consisted of glucose. In vivo, FMP had high hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reducing capacity. In vivo, FMP increased serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidise activities and decreased the level of malondialdehyde. These results indicated that FMP exhibits high antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo and might retard human ageing associated with free radicals.