Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide extract relieves FB1-induced neurotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in Caenorhabditis elegans

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin that is harmful to the nervous system; however, there is currently a lack of studies on plant compounds that alleviate the neurotoxicity of FB1. Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides exhibit neuroprotective effects, but it is unclear whether they protect against FB1-induced neurotoxicity. Here, Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ) was used to study the alleviation effects of P. sibiricum polysaccharide extract (PSPE) preprotection on FB1-induced neurotoxicity. PSPE pretreatment improved the behavioral deficits and neuronal damage in FB1-induced C. elegans . In addition, 20–200 μg/mL PSPE alleviated the oxidative damage in FB1-induced C. elegans by regulating the levels of reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression. Further studies have shown that PSPE pretreatment induced mitochondrial expression, increased ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential, and regulated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and dynamics. Together, the protective effects of PSPE against FB1-induced neurotoxicity might be closely related with the reduction of oxidative stress and the regulation of mitochondria. • PSPE pretreatment had neuroprotective effects on C. elegans induced by FB1. • PSPE attenuated FB1-induced behavior deficits and neuronal damage in C. elegans. • PSPE enhanced the expression of mitochondrial complexes in FB1-induced C. elegans. • PSPE may alleviate FB 1 -induced neurotoxicity by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.