Optimization of ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Hemerocallis citrina and the antioxidant activity study

Abstract The present study discussed the optimization of the ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of polysaccharides from daylily polysaccharides (DPs). The extracted crude polysaccharides were further separated and purified, and the antioxidant activities including 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐111 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2'‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activities of the obtained fractions were also evaluated. The results showed that the optimal ultrasonic‐assisted extraction parameters with DPs yield of 15.25 ± 1.13% were water to powder ratio of 25 ml/g, extraction power of 694 W, extraction temperature of 71°C, extraction time of 38 min, and three times extraction. By DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow column, four water‐soluble polysaccharide fractions (DP‐1, DP‐2, DP‐3, and DP‐4) were successfully obtained. Monosaccharide component analysis showed that the four obtained fractions were all hetero‐polysaccharides that mainly contained rhamnose, arabinose, fructose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid in different molar ratios. All the four DP fractions did show obvious antioxidant activities in vitro, and the DP‐3 component had relatively high ABTS free radical scavenging activity. Overall, our research showed that DPs could provide cheap raw materials for the development of natural antioxidants in medicines, functional foods, and even cosmetics. Practical Application This article deals with the optimization of the ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of polysaccharides from daylily and its antioxidant activities. The results showed that the optimal ultrasonic‐assisted extraction yield of DPs was 15.25 ± 1.13%. By DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow column, four water‐soluble polysaccharide fractions were successfully obtained, and all the four DP fractions did show obvious antioxidant activities in vitro. Daylily polysaccharides could provide cheap raw materials for the development of natural antioxidants in medicines, functional foods, and even cosmetics.