A novel quantitative evaluation strategy of polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum L. fruits based on simultaneous quantification of total polysaccharides and polysaccharides with active structure characteristics

The polysaccharides from L. barbarum L. fruits (LBPs) are a kind of complex polysaccharides, which mainly contribute to the bioactivity of L. barbarum L. fruits and riches in acidic polysaccharides fractions. And the pharmacological research showed that the immunomodulatory effect of LBPs was closely related to α -1,4-D-galactosiduronic linkages. Therefore, as one of the main active polysaccharide fractions in LBPs, acidic polysaccharides fraction should also be used for the quality control of L. barbarum L. fruits. In this study, a novel quantitative evaluation strategy of polysaccharides from L. barbarum L. fruits based on simultaneous quantification of total polysaccharides and polysaccharides with active structure characteristics was proposed to improve their performance in the medicinal and functional food area more comprehensively and effectively, and beneficial to improve the quality control of L. barbarum L. fruits. The content of total polysaccharides in L. barbarum L. fruits was determined by HPSEC-RID method combined with universal dn / dc (0.15 mL·g −1 ). Additionally, HPAEC-PAD method combined with pectinase hydrolysis and m-hydroxybiphenyl colorimetric method were developed for the determination of acidic polysaccharide components related to active structural characteristics in L. barbarum fruits. The results revealed that the trends of total polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides in L. barbarum L. fruits did not entirely coincide, further emphasizing the necessity of simultaneously quantifying both fractions for quality control. Furthermore, the m-hydroxybiphenyl method can be used as an alternative method to determine the content of acidic polysaccharides by HPAEC-PAD combined with pectinase hydrolysis. • A new quantitative evaluation strategy of LBPs was proposed and applied. • Total and active polysaccharides in L. barbarum L. fruits was simultaneously quantificated. • HPSEC-RID combined with the universal dn / dc was used to determine the content of LBPs. • HPAEC-PAD combined with pectinase hydrolysis was used to determine their acidic polysaccharides.