The antioxidant activity of the polysaccharide from Ramulus mori and its derivatives (sulfated, phosphorylated, acetylated and benzoylated polysaccharides) were determined, including scavenging activity against superoxide, hydroxyl and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, reducing power and chelating ability. Obvious differences in antioxidant activity between the natural polysaccharide and its derivatives were observed, the antioxidant activity of the sulfated, phosphorylated and acetylated derivatives was stronger than that of the natural polysaccharide. In addition, the effect of temperature (20, 40, 60, 80 and 90 °C) and pH (3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) on the antioxidant activity of the natural polysaccharide and its derivatives was also investigated. The antioxidant activity of all samples in the linoleate emulsion improved with increasing from pH 3 to 11, while it decreased with ascending storage temperature from 20 to 90 °C.Keywords: antioxidant activity, temperature, pH, polysaccharide derivatives, Ramulus mori *To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: slgsilk@zju.edu.cn
IntroductionReactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by sunlight, ultraviolet light, ionizing radiation, chemical reactions and metabolic processes have a wide variety of pathological effects, such as causing DNA damage, carcinogenesis and cellular degeneration related to aging (Blander et al., 2003). In order to reduce damage of free radicals, synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propylgallate (PG), and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) are used. However, BHA and BHT have been suspected of being responsible for liver damage and carcinogenesis (Grice, 1988). Thus, it is essential to develop and utilize effective and natural antioxidants so that they can protect the human body from free radicals and retard the progress of many chronic diseases (Nandita and Rajini, 2004).Polysaccharides are common structural and storage polymers in living organisms, representing more than 75 % of the dry mass of plants. Polysaccharides are potentially useful, biologically active ingredients for pharmaceutical uses due to a variety of biological activities, such as immunological, anti-radiation, anti-blood coagulation, anti-cancer, anti-HIV and hypoglycemic activities (Yang et al., 2005;Yoon et al., 2003;Lee et al., 2002). The activity of polysaccharides is close related to their structure such as molecular mass, degree of substitution, degree of branching, sugar component and the structures of main chain and branches (Bohn and BeMiller, 1995). Thus, chemical modifications of polysaccharides provided an opportunity to obtain new agents with possible therapeutic uses (Franz and Alban, 1995).Ramulus mori is the branch of Morus alba L., family Moraceae, according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, it is slightly bitter in taste, mild in nature, and attributive to the liver meridian. In traditional Chinese medicine, its pharmacological actions are to expel wind, dredge the meridians, and ease...