Simultaneous extraction of polysaccharides from Poria cocos by ultrasonic technique and its inhibitory activities against oxidative injury in rats with cervical cancer

Orthogonal array design (OAD) was applied for the first time to optimize ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UE) of polysaccharides from Poria cocos (PCP). An analysis of variance technique was employed as the data analysis strategy in this study. PCP were successfully extracted from P. cocos under the optimum UE conditions: 75 min extraction time, 70 mesh particle size, and 90 °C extraction temperature. An analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of chemical components of PCP by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Wistar rats were fed for 40 days with PCP. The total antioxidant status of organs was assayed by monitoring antioxidant enzyme activities. Results indicated that PCP could increased the level of GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes in Wistar rats. These results confirm the effectiveness of PCP supplementation in detoxifying free radicals that are produced excessively in rats with cervical cancer.