Structures, physicochemical and bioactive properties of polysaccharides extracted from Panax notoginseng using ultrasonic/microwave-assisted extraction

In this study, Panax notoginseng polysaccharides (PNPS) were extracted using ultrasonic/microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE). Based on single-factor experiments, ultrasonic duration, ultrasonic power, microwave duration, and microwave power were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). The results indicated that the optimal extraction parameters were an ultrasonic duration of 10 min, ultrasonic power of 50 W, microwave duration of 4 min, and microwave power of 540 W, which resulted in the highest extraction rate of PNPS at 11.03 ± 0.16%. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that PNPS exhibited a porous and rough structure. The chemical structure of PNPS was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The molecular weight of PNPS was measured to be 4.148 × 105 Da; moreover, PNPS was found to be composed of glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, mannose, and ribose. The DPPH scavenging efficiency of PNPS (5 mg/mL) was evaluated to be 65.74%. Upon in vitro simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion, partly digested PNPS was obtained. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and rheological testing results indicated that PNPS exhibited high thermal stability and favorable rheological properties. Therefore, PNPS extracted using UMAE exhibited broad application prospects for functional foods and pharmaceuticals.