Extraction, structural identification and anti-tumor activity of two Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides evaluated by S180 tumor-bearing mice.

In this study, we extracted and isolated two polysaccharides with molecular weights of 2.28 × 104 Da and 2.71 × 103 Da from Cordyceps militaris , named CMP-90 and CMP-E, respectively. Structural characterization revealed that CMP-90 consists of six glycosidic bonds, Glc p -(1→, Gal p -(1→, →3)-Glc p -(1→, →6)-Glc p -(1→, Man p -(1→, and →4,6)-Man p -(1→. CMP-E consists of →4)-Gal p -(1→, →4)-Glc p -(1→, →6)-Glc p -(1→, Glc p -(1→, →3)-Glc p -(1→, →2,3,6)-Glc p -(1→, and →2)-Glc p -(1→ glycosidic bonds. Animal experiments demonstrated that both polysaccharides were able to increase immune cell viability, regulate the ratio of lymphocyte subpopulations, and increase the levels of serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, and IFN-γ) by improving the status of immune organs in loaded tumor-bearing mice. CMP-90 and CMP-E were also able to activate caspase-mediated apoptosis to cause apoptosis of S180 cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which was blocked at the G1 phase. The above experimental results suggest that Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides have the potential to become a functional agent for sarcoma. [Display omitted] • CMP-90 and CMP-E were purified from Cordyceps militaris. • The structures of the two Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides were compared. • CMP-90 and CMP-E presented superior anti-tumor activity in vivo. • C. militaris polysaccharides induces cell apoptosis through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]