Chemical characterisation and hypolipidaemic effects of two purified Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides

Summary This study is focused on the isolation and characterisation of two purified polysaccharide fractions (namely PPEP ‐1 and PPEP ‐2) from Pleurotus eryngii ( P. eryngii ) and evaluation of their hypolipidaemic effects. The Congo red analysis indicated that PPEP ‐2 but not PPEP ‐1 possessed a triple‐helix conformation. The atomic force microscope analysis revealed that PPEP ‐1 and PPEP ‐2 showed different polysaccharide chain conformations. Importantly, the mice treated with PPEP ‐1 showed significantly lowered serum levels of total cholesterol ( TC ), triglyceride ( TG ) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL ‐c) and increased high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol when compared with the hyperlipidaemia mice induced by the high‐fat diet. However, PPEP ‐2 revealed less hypolipidaemic effect than PPEP ‐1. Additionally, both PPEP ‐1 and PPEP ‐2 demonstrated remarkable hypolipidaemic effects by decreasing levels of serum TC , TG and LDL ‐c in the hyperlipidaemic model induced by P‐407. Taken together, our findings suggest that the P. eryngii polysaccharides, especially PPEP ‐1, could be developed as a natural functional food supplement for preventing hyperlipidaemia.