Purification, characterization and biological activity on hepatocytes of a polysaccharide from Flammulina velutipes mycelium

A water-soluble polysaccharide named as FVP2 has been isolated from Flammulina velutipes mycelium by hot water extraction, anion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography. Structure study shows FVP2 is an α-(1→4)-d-glucan, with a single α-d-glucan at the C-6 position approximately every seven residues, along the main chain. The weight-average molecular weight is 1.89 × 104 Da. Its biological activity was tested on hepatocytes. In vitro study indicates FVP2 can enhance the livability of primary culture of mouse hepatocytes and decrease the release of ALT as well as apoptosis of hepatocytes after CCl4 intoxication.