The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microwave ultrasonic-assisted extraction (MUAE) on the content, structure, and biological functions of Brassica rapa L. polysaccharide (BRP). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the parameters of MUAE, and it obtained a polysaccharide with yield of 21.802%. Then, a neutral polysaccharide named BRP-1-1 with a molecular weight of 31.378 kDa was isolated and purified from BRP using DEAE-650 M and Sephadex G-100. The structures of the BRP-1-1 were elucidated through a combination of FT-IR, GC-MS, NMR, and methylation analysis. The results showed that BRP-1 consisted of mannose (Man) and glucose (Glu) in a molar ratio of 7.62:1. The backbone of BRP-1-1 mainly consisted of →6)-α-D-Glup-(1→4-β-D-Glup-(1→2)-α-D-Manp-(1→2)-α-D-Glup-(1→, the branch was [T-α-D-Manp-(1]_n→. BRP-1-1 intervention significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity; an inhibition rate of 44.623% was achieved at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. The results of the in vitro biological activity showed that BRP-1-1 has good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity, suggesting that BRP-1-1 could be developed as a functional medicine.

A method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) was developed for quantitative analysis of five active compounds and chemical fingerprint analysis of Rosa rugosa. Ten batches of R. rugosa collected from different plantations in the Xinjiang region of China were used to establish the fingerprint. The feasibility and advantages of the used UPLC fingerprint were verified for its similarity evaluation by systematically comparing chromatograms with professional analytical software recommended by State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of China. In quantitative analysis, the five compounds showed good regression (R² = 0.9995) within the test ranges, and the recovery of the method was in the range of 94.2%–103.8%. The similarities of liquid chromatography fingerprints of 10 batches of R. rugosa were more than 0.981. The developed UPLC fingerprint method is simple, reliable, and validated for the quality control and identification of R. rugosa. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of five major bioactive ingredients in the R. rugosa samples was conducted to interpret the consistency of the quality test. The results indicated that the UPLC fingerprint, as a characteristic distinguishing method combining similarity evaluation and quantification analysis, can be successfully used to assess the quality and to identify the authenticity of R. rugosa.

Acidic polysaccharides, valued for their outstanding bioactivity and physicochemical properties, represent a promising strategy for metabolic disease intervention. In this study, three acidic polysaccharide fractions (BRP-1, BRP-2, and BRP-3) were isolated from Brassica rapa L. using membrane filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. BRP-3, notable for its high galacturonic acid content (76.64%), was further purified to yield the homogeneous fraction BRP-3-1 (Mw = 22.3 kDa). Combining GC-MS, FTIR, and NMR analyses, we report for the first time the detailed structure of BRP-3-1—a heteropolysaccharide composed of rhamnose (1.687%), galacturonic acid (75.584%), galactose (14.452%), and arabinose (8.277%)—with a backbone composed with T-α-L-Araf-(1 → 5)-α-L- Araf -(1 → 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → 4)-α-D-2-O- GalpA Me-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → 3)-Galp-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalpA, and T-Rhap, T-Galp as well as T-GalpA for branched chain and terminals. In HepG2 insulin-resistant cells, BRP-3-1 demonstrated potent dual regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism—enhancing glucose consumption, lowering total cholesterol, and significantly reducing triglyceride levels in the high-dose group (800 μg/mL), outperforming BRP-2. This work systematically defines the structure of a highly bioactive acidic polysaccharide from B. rapa L. and confirms its metabolic regulatory effects, offering a strong scientific foundation for its application in functional foods and as an adjuvant therapeutic for metabolic disorders.

A method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) was developed for quantitative analysis of five active compounds and chemical fingerprint analysis of Rosa rugosa. Ten batches of Rosa rugosa collected from different plantations in the Xinjiang region of China were used to establish the fingerprint. The feasibility and advantages of the used UPLC fingerprint were verified for its similarity evaluation by systematically comparing chromatograms with professional analytical software recommended by State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of China. In quantitative analysis, the five compounds showed good regression (R²=0.999 5) within the test ranges and the recovery of the method was in the range of 94.2–103.8%. The similarities of the fingerprints of 10 batches of the samples were more than 0.981. The developed UPLC fingerprint method is simple, reliable and validated for the quality control and identification of Rosa rugosa. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of five major bioactive ingredients in the Rosa rugosa samples was conducted to interpret the consistency of the quality test. The results indicated that the UPLC fingerprint as a characteristic distinguishing method combining similarity evaluation and quantification analysis, can be successfully used to assess the quality and to identify the authenticity of Rosa rugosa.

Background/Objectives: The worldwide occurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing, but existing treatments frequently suffer from limited effectiveness and notable side effects. walnut green husk polysaccharide (WGHP) has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities; however, its specific potential and mechanisms of action against colitis remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of purified WGHP on (dextran sulfate sodium) DSS-induced UC and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: WGHP-2-2, a primary acidic polysaccharide fraction, was extracted from crude WGHP and analyzed through chromatography and spectroscopy. The therapeutic efficacy of WGHP-2 was assessed using a murine model of DSS-induced UC. Assessments included disease severity (DAI, colon length, histopathology), inflammatory markers (tissue IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10), and intestinal barrier integrity (Claudin-5, Occludin, ZO-1). Results: WGHP-2-2 is an acidic polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 15.29 kDa. Its composition includes glucosamine, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose, with respective molar ratios of 0.55, 8.48, 3.06, 65.99, 4.49, 10.86, and 6.57. Methylation and NMR analyses revealed a backbone mainly composed of →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→ and →2)-α-D-Rhap-(1→ linkages, with side chains or terminal residues such as T-Rhap, T-Galp, T-Glcp, and T-Araf. In vivo, WGHP-2 significantly mitigated DSS-induced UC symptoms in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, the high-dose group (123 mg/kg) markedly attenuated colon shortening and improved histological architecture, including the restoration of colonic crypts. WGHP-2 effectively reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in colon tissues, while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Conclusions: WGHP-2 mitigates DSS-induced UC by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), increasing IL-10 levels, and improving intestinal barrier integrity through the upregulation of tight junction proteins. These results position WGHP-2 as a promising lead compound for developing functional foods for UC.