Structural characterization and in vitro myocardial injury protection potential of one acidic polysaccharide from blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) pomace.

INTRODUCTION

Blueberry pomace is the by-product of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) fruits. This study aimed to prepare blueberry pomace polysaccharide (BBPP) and explore its myocardial injury protection potential.

METHODS

An acidic polysaccharide (BBPP80-1a) was isolated and purified from active BBPP80-1 fraction. Its structure was characterized based on some approaches. Its myocardial injury protection potential was performed in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced H9c2 cells injury model.

RESULTS

The molecular weight of BBPP80-1a was 164.91 kDa. The ratio of galacturonic acid (GalA) was 50.92% in methylation results. Further, nuclear magnetic resonance data suggested repetitive → 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → and → 4)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1 → residues occupied the homogalacturonan region of backbone. It had a highly porous, reticular, and heterogeneous microstructures. Moreover, BBPP80-1a can obviously protect H9c2 cells from H/R injury via phosphoinositide 3-kinase / protein kinase B / mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase / mitogen-activated protein kinase (JNK/MAPK) pathways.

DISCUSSION: BBPP80-1a is a pectic polysaccharide. It exhibited the potential on cardioprotective effect through the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR survival pathway and the regulation of JNK/MAPK pathways.