Polysaccharides were extracted from Lycium barbarum fruits in this work. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been employed to characterize this polysaccharides in the present study. The results of chemical composition indicated that the L. barbarum polysaccharides were composed of two kinds of monosaccharides, namely glucose and fructose in molar ratios of 1:2.1. The results indicated that the glucose and fructose were the predominant monosaccharides. IR spectrum of L. barbarum polysaccharides revealed a typical peaks of polysaccharides. The results still showed that L. barbarum polysaccharides significantly decreased the myocardium LD level, increased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities in heart ischemia reperfusion (IR) rats. In addition, L. barbarum polysaccharides still markedly decreased myocardium Bax positive rate and myocardial cell apoptosis and increased Bcl-2 positive rate in a dose-dependent manner. It may be concluded that administration of L. barbarum polysaccharides can prevented the development of cardiovascular diseases.
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