Efficiently electron beam radiation-induced degradation and extraction of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides and its excellent biofunctional properties

The full exploitation of botanical polysaccharides is often hampered by inefficient extraction and limited structural controllability. This study investigated electron beam irradiation (EBI, 0-80 kGy) as a green pretreatment to enhance extraction yield and modify biofunctional properties of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides. EBI enhanced extraction yield by 62.13%, while reducing molecular weight by 46.61%, enhancing solubility and oil holding capacity. Notably, EBI triggered a dose-dependent reconstruction of monosaccharide composition, including a 42.01% increase in arabinose, without altering the fundamental functional groups or triple-helix conformation. This structural modulation led to divergent functional enhancements, medium-dose irradiation (40 kGy) markedly improved immunomodulatory activity and foaming capacity/stability, whereas high-dose irradiation (80 kGy) greatly enhanced antioxidant activity and antitumor efficacy against K562 cells. The strong correlations established between structural parameters and bioactivities underscore a controllable structure-activity relationship. These findings provide a novel strategy for the value-added development of functional food ingredients.