Investigating the anti-aging effects of Polygonatum sibiricum Polysaccharides (PSP) decorated with selenium nanoparticles using metabolomics analyses

In this study, Polygonatum sibiricum Red . polysaccharide (PSP) stabilized selenium nanoparticles (PSP-SeNPs) were synthesized through a sodium selenite (Na 2 SeO 3 )-ascorbic acid redox reaction to enhance the antioxidant effects on PSP. The morphology, stability, and antioxidant activity of PSP-SeNPs were investigated. The anti-aging mechanism was claimed from the perspective of cellular metabolism for the first time. The results showed a spherical morphology at a Na 2 SeO 3 /polysaccharide mass ratio of 1:5 with an average particle size of 133 ± 3.14 nm and selenium content of 356.12 ± 7.33 mg/L. These nanoparticles exhibited good stability, with no significant change after 14 days of storage at 4 °C. This may be attributed to the hydrogen bonding interactions between the SeNPs and the PSP. Moreover, DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays demonstrated that PSP-SeNPs displayed an excellent antioxidant effect compared to PSP in vitro . Next, in the anti-aging assays, the nanoparticles significantly reduced the expression of senescence-associated β -galactosidase (SA- β -gal) in HK-2 cells induced by D -gal. The pathways of glutathione metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis, including phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, were regulated to delay cellular aging through cellular metabolomics analysis. These results suggest that PSP-SeNPs could serve as potential antioxidant or anti-aging agents for treating D -gal-induced aging. • PSP-SeNPs were successfully synthesized and exhibited significant antioxidant activity. • PSP-SeNPs exhibited excellent anti-aging effects on D -gal-induced HK-2 cells in vitro . • PSP-SeNPs demonstrated significant protective effects against aging by regulating glutathione, amino acid, and lipid metabolism.