Abstract:To explore the physicochemical properties of Viola philippica Polysaccharide (VPP) and its effect on the exercise endurance in mice, the physicalcochemical properties of crude and purified polysaccharides were determined. The serum biochemical metabolism indexes and liver oxidative stress levels of mice were measured after exhaustive swimming experiments. The results showed that VPP could be separated and purified into two main components, VPP-A (55.45%) and VPP-B (45.32%), which were further purified to yield VPP-A1 and VPP-B1. The weight-average molecular weights of VPP-A1 and VPP-B1 were 2.532×106 and 5.843×105 g/mol, respectively. VPP-A1 was composed of mannose, glucose, and fucose in a molar ratio of 1.76:1.00:0.21, whilst VPP-B1 was composed of glucose, fucose, and glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 1.00:1.160:1.73. Both VPP-A1 and VPP-B1 had certain water- and oil-holding properties, as well as good thermal stability. Compared with CON, the exhaustive swimming time of mice in the VPP, VPP-A1, and VPP-B1 groups increased significantly by 74.26%, 31.99%, and 45.83% (P<0.05), respectively, their hepatic glycogen and muscle glycogen contents significantly increased by 151.18%, 52.44%, 77.48%, and 117.26%, 50.53%, 74.53%, respectively (P<0.05), and their blood lactate and blood urea nitrogen levels were significantly reduced by 50.23%, 23.24%, 32.50% and 56.94%, 33.63%, 45.01%, respectively (P<0.05). Meanwhile, VPP, VPP-A1, and VPP-B1 all significantly improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the mice’s livers, reduced their contents of malondialdehyde, and alleviated oxidative stress damage to their livers. In summary, VPP had a significant improving effect on the exercise endurance of mice, and such an effect of the crude polysaccharide was greater than those of the purified polysaccharides. This study provides a research foundation for the indepth development of Viola philippica polysaccharide into sports functional foods.
