Structural characterization, rheological properties, and skin bioactivities of a glucomannan from Bletilla striata

doi:10.1007/s13659-026-00638-8

Natural Products and Bioprospecting ›› 2026, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (5): 73-73.DOI: 10.1007/s13659-026-00638-8

• ORIGINAL ARTICLES • Previous Articles Next Articles

Structural characterization, rheological properties, and skin bioactivities of a glucomannan from Bletilla striata

Xuan Li^1,2, Qinghui Gu², Qile Hu³, Tuo Deng², Lan Luo³, Jianping Cai⁴, Xudong Dong⁵, Chunhua Wu¹, Mingyi Wu^1,2

1. College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China;
3. School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China;
4. Shanghai Jiaxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201108, China;
5. The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Kunming, 650032, China

Received:2026-03-13 Accepted:2026-05-15 Online:2026-10-08
Supported by:
This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KIBXD200402), National Natural Science Foundation of China (32460369), State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany CAS (ZZ-2026-06), Science and Technology Plan Project of Yunnan Province (202403AC100002). Yunnan Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Gynecological and Obstetric Diseases (202505AJ310008).

Structural characterization, rheological properties, and skin bioactivities of a glucomannan from Bletilla striata

Xuan Li^1,2, Qinghui Gu², Qile Hu³, Tuo Deng², Lan Luo³, Jianping Cai⁴, Xudong Dong⁵, Chunhua Wu¹, Mingyi Wu^1,2

1. College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China;
3. School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China;
4. Shanghai Jiaxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201108, China;
5. The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Kunming, 650032, China

通讯作者: Chunhua Wu,E-mail:kmwuchunhua@swfu.edu.cn;Mingyi Wu,E-mail:wumingyi@mail.kib.ac.cn
基金资助:
This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KIBXD200402), National Natural Science Foundation of China (32460369), State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany CAS (ZZ-2026-06), Science and Technology Plan Project of Yunnan Province (202403AC100002). Yunnan Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Gynecological and Obstetric Diseases (202505AJ310008).

Abstract

Abstract: Bletilla striata is highly regarded in traditional Chinese medicine and has also gained widespread attention as a valuable medicinal plant resource. However, the molecular composition and bioactive potential of its polysaccharides present a significant knowledge gap. Herein, a specific glucomannan fraction, designated as BSP60, was purified from Bletilla striata tubers and subsequently subjected to structural, rheological, and biological evaluations. Comprehensive characterization via methylation-GC-MS, monosaccharide composition analysis, and 1D and 2D NMR techniques demonstrated that BSP60 possesses a β-(1 → 4)-linked backbone featuring alternating mannosyl and glucosyl units, with the mannose moieties exhibiting partial O-acetylation at their C-2 or C-3 positions (with an acetylation rate of 23.54%). Rheological studies showed that BSP60 aqueous solutions exhibit shear-thinning behavior and form an elastic-dominated viscoelastic network, with higher viscosity and storage modulus than dextran of comparable molecular weight, indicating enhanced intermolecular interactions. Biological assays revealed that the BSP60 effectively decreased the level of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-triggered macrophages (RAW264.7). Furthermore, the scavenge ability of BSP60 to superoxide anion (O₂^·-) and ABTS^⁺· radicals are significantly higher than that of hyaluronic acid. This study systematically characterizes the structural features of glucomannan derived from Bletilla striata, thereby establishing a robust scientific basis for its expanded utilization in the development of biomedical materials and functional cosmetic ingredients.

Key words: Bletilla striata, Glucomannan, Structure elucidation, Bioactivity

摘要： Bletilla striata is highly regarded in traditional Chinese medicine and has also gained widespread attention as a valuable medicinal plant resource. However, the molecular composition and bioactive potential of its polysaccharides present a significant knowledge gap. Herein, a specific glucomannan fraction, designated as BSP60, was purified from Bletilla striata tubers and subsequently subjected to structural, rheological, and biological evaluations. Comprehensive characterization via methylation-GC-MS, monosaccharide composition analysis, and 1D and 2D NMR techniques demonstrated that BSP60 possesses a β-(1 → 4)-linked backbone featuring alternating mannosyl and glucosyl units, with the mannose moieties exhibiting partial O-acetylation at their C-2 or C-3 positions (with an acetylation rate of 23.54%). Rheological studies showed that BSP60 aqueous solutions exhibit shear-thinning behavior and form an elastic-dominated viscoelastic network, with higher viscosity and storage modulus than dextran of comparable molecular weight, indicating enhanced intermolecular interactions. Biological assays revealed that the BSP60 effectively decreased the level of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-triggered macrophages (RAW264.7). Furthermore, the scavenge ability of BSP60 to superoxide anion (O₂^·-) and ABTS^⁺· radicals are significantly higher than that of hyaluronic acid. This study systematically characterizes the structural features of glucomannan derived from Bletilla striata, thereby establishing a robust scientific basis for its expanded utilization in the development of biomedical materials and functional cosmetic ingredients.

关键词: Bletilla striata, Glucomannan, Structure elucidation, Bioactivity

Xuan Li, Qinghui Gu, Qile Hu, Tuo Deng, Lan Luo, Jianping Cai, Xudong Dong, Chunhua Wu, Mingyi Wu. Structural characterization, rheological properties, and skin bioactivities of a glucomannan from Bletilla striata[J]. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 2026, 16(5): 73-73.

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Structural characterization, rheological properties, and skin bioactivities of a glucomannan from Bletilla striata

Structural characterization, rheological properties, and skin bioactivities of a glucomannan from Bletilla striata

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