RAPID EXTRACTION OF POLYSACCHARIDES FROM FRUITS OF LYCIUM BARBARUM L.

Abstract

ABSTRACT A microwave-ultrasonic-assisted extraction (MUAE) method and apparatus on polysaccharides from fresh fruits of Lycium barbarum was developed. The main parameters of the MUAE were optimized: microwave power of 500 W, microwave time of 10 min, ultrasonication time of 30 min, ultrasonication temperature of 50C and pH 9.0. The MUAE showed obvious advantages in short duration, high efficiency and saving energy in comparison with the traditional Soxhlet extraction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study can be considered as the first report on the extraction of polysaccharides with combination of microwave and ultrasonic from fresh fruits of Lycium barbarum. Compared with the traditional Soxhlet extraction method, the established MUAE can save energy (no drying fresh fruits) and cost, shorten extraction time, reduce extraction temperature and has great potential in large-scale extraction of polysaccharides from fresh fruits of L. barbarum and in the extraction of active compounds from other plant materials.