Structural Characterization and Protective Effect Against Myocardial Fibrosis of Polysaccharide from Stellariae Radix (Stellaria Dichotoma L. Var. lanceolata Bge.).

Myocardial fibrosis is the main pathological feature of cardiovascular diseases. Stellariae Radix polysaccharide has many pharmacological effects, but its anti-cardiac fibrosis activity has not been reported. In this study that the structure of a new polysaccharide SRP-1 from Stellariae Radix was identified, and its anti-myocardial fibrosis effect was discussed. SRP-1 was extracted from Stellariae Radix and purified by DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography. According to physicochemical methods and monosaccharide composition analysis, SRP-1 was found to be mainly composed of galactose, glucose, xylose, fructose, mannose, and rhamnose, and its weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 31,309 Da. Tests of activity against myocardial fibrosis indicated marked downregulation of the expression of Col I, Col III, α-SMA, and proteins related to the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, which were induced by TGF-β1, in mouse cardiac fibroblasts pretreated with SRP-1. In addition, SRP-1restrained the abnormal growth of cardiac fibroblasts cells and the expression of Snail 1, Snail 2, Twist 1, and Slug mRNA in vitro. These results indicate that Stellariae Radix polysaccharide may warrant further analysis as a novel therapeutic agent for cardiovascular diseases.