Antioxidant Activity in Vitro and Vivo of Polysaccharide from Paulownia fortunei Flower

This study aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity in vitro and vivo of polysaccharide prepared from Paulownia fortunei flower by water extract-alcohol precipitation. In vitro, results showed that Paulownia fortunei flower polysaccharide had a dose-dependent and good effect on scavenging superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and inhibiting H₂O₂ hemolysis. When the concentration of polysaccharide controlled at 0.5 mg/mL, the scavenging rates of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical were 54.36% and 74.62% respectively, with more than half effect of 50%. When at 2 mg/mL, the anti-H₂O₂ oxidation hemolysis rate was higher than that of the positive control Vc group (1 mg/mL). In vivo, after the experimental mice were administered to oral gavage with Paulownia flower polysaccharide at low, medium and high dosages (5, 10 and 20 mg/mL, 0.2 mL) for 28 consecutive days. The result showed that Paulownia fortunei flower polysaccharide had no effect on weight of mice; different doses of polysaccharide could enhance or siginificantly enhance the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) remarkably in serum, heart, liver, kidney, ileum (P<0.05) when compared with that of the blank group, and reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) content dramatically with a certain concentration-response relationship. The results indicate that Paulownia fortunei flower polysaccharide had perfect antioxidant activity and could be used as a natural antioxidant in food and medicine industry.