Comparison of different extraction methods for polysaccharides from Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge

In this study, different extraction methods of polysaccharides from Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (CPP) were compared by studying the extraction yield, structural characteristics and antioxidant activities. Firstly, polysaccharides were obtained using hot water extraction (CPPh), ultrasound assisted extraction (CPPu), enzyme assisted extraction (CPPe) and enzyme-ultrasound assisted extraction (CPPc), respectively. Meanwhile, the optimum extraction conditions of enzyme-ultrasonic assisted extraction were determined by response surface method (RSM). The extraction yields, structural characteristics and antioxidant activities were investigated and compared by visual photos, gas chromatography, ultraviolet-visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results clearly showed that enzyme-ultrasonic assisted extraction possessed the highest extraction yield (10.39 ± 0.04%). The molecular weight of CPPh was the highest while the other polysaccharides had no significant difference. Besides, the monosaccharide composition of CPPc, CPPh, CPPu and CPPe were similar but the molar percentages of monosaccharide were different. Finally, the results of antioxidant activities showed that CPPc exhibited the highest scavenging effect of superoxide radical and lipids inhibiting ability. In summary, enzyme-ultrasonic assisted extraction was a high-efficient and low-energy consumption method for CPP extraction.