Optimization of Aqueous Two‐Phase Extraction of Polysaccharides from Hawthorn by Response Surface Methodology Coupled with Genetic Algorithm and Its Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

AbstractHawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) contains various active components including polysaccharides, polyphenols, vitamin, phenolic acid, etc. Polysaccharides are one of the most critical active components in hawthorn, which exhibits different biological activities such as immunomodulatory antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and other activities. Hence, the main purpose of this paper is to optimize the aqueous two‐phase extraction (UTPE) of polysaccharides from hawthorn via a response surface methodology coupled genetic algorithm (RSM‐GA) and then evaluate its antioxidant activity through free radicals scavenging experiments. The results show that the optimal extraction conditions to achieve the maximum polysaccharides yield (6.42 ± 0.08)% from hawthorn by UTPE is obtained under the mass fraction of ammonium sulfate of 11%, extraction temperature of 57 °C, liquid‐to‐solid ratio of 33 mL g−1, ethanol concentration of 26%, and extraction time of 30 min, and the relative error between the experimental value and the theoretical value is 4.56%. The antioxidant capacity is enhanced with the increase of hawthorn polysaccharides (HPs) concentration. However, the antioxidant activity of HPs is weaker than that of ascorbic acid. The results of this study provide a critical material basis for promoting the further research of HPs, and have certain significance for the deep processing and product development of hawthorn.