Structural characterization and mast cell stabilizing activity of Red-edge tea polysaccharide

The potential anti-allergic properties of tea have been demonstrated in studies supporting theanine and catechin. However, research on tea polysaccharides' anti-allergic properties has been limited. In this study, we extracted red-edge tea crude polysaccharide (RETPS) and evaluated its anti-allergic activity using the mast cell, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, and passive systemic anaphylaxis models. We purified RETPS using the DEAE-52 cellulose column, analyzed its composition and structural characteristics, and compared the anti-allergic properties of different polysaccharide fractions. The purified components RETPS-3 and RETPS-4 displayed higher galacturonic acid content and lower molecular weight (106.61 kDa and 53.95 kDa, respectively) compared to RETPS (310.54 kDa). In addition, RETPS-3 and RETPS-4 demonstrated superior anti-allergic activity than RETPS in mice's passive cutaneous and systemic allergic reactions. Our findings provide evidence of the anti-allergic potential of tea polysaccharides and offer a theoretical foundation for developing tea polysaccharides as a functional anti-allergic food product.