Abstract:

Purpose: To study the effect of polysaccharide from the seeds of Castanea mollissima Blume (Chinese chestnut)
on arterial thrombosis in mice. Methods: The chestnut polysaccharide was extracted from the seeds of Castanea mollissima
Blume with hot water. Mice were administered with the polysaccharide at daily doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 10 days.
The bleeding time and coagulation time of mice were measured by tail cutting method and glass slide method, respectively.
The time to occlusion, blood flow of carotid artery and thrombosis weight of mice were measured in 5% ferric chloride
(FeCl3)-induced carotid artery thrombosis model. The time to occlusion and carotid artery blood flow of mice were monitored
by laser Doppler florimetry. Results: The administration of the water-soluble polysaccharide from Chinese chestnut at 100
and 200 mg/kg significantly prolonged bleeding time, coagulation time and the time to occlusion, and reduced blood flow
variability obviously. Conclusion: The chestnut polysaccharide can inhibit arterial thrombosis, which may be related to its
anti-platelet and anti-coagulation effects.

Key words: Castanea mollissima Blume polysaccharide, bleeding time, coagulation time, antithrombosis