Auricularia Auricula Polysaccharide Research Articles

Enhanced preservation of cut rose flowers through bacterial nanocellulose produced from legume wastewater and fortified with Auricularia auricula polysaccharide

Cut flowers of Rosa hybrida 'Lychee' are susceptible to rapid decay, resulting in a brief shelf life, a inherent feature to their floral physiology. This study evaluated the effects of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), which was produced from the legume processing wastewater and loaded with Auricularia auricula polysaccharide and 8-hydroxyquinoline, in extending the shelf life of these cut rose flowers. Water-retaining cotton and floral foam blocks were employed as control materials. The bacterial strain Komagataeibacter rhaeticus CP050139.1 yielded BNC from legume waste at a rate comparable to that from a glucose-based medium: 0.107±0.004 g L−1 d−1 versus 0.157±0.004 g L−1 d−1, respectively. Characterization via FE-SEM, FT-IR, TGA, and XRD confirmed that the BNC from both sources exhibited similar microscopic morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability, and crystallinity. The use of BNC, particularly when enriched with Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP), extended the shelf life of cut roses by 50 % and significantly minimized fresh weight loss in comparison to the control materials. BNC's superior water-holding capacity — 42.7 times greater than that of water-retaining cotton — proved advantages for maintaining hydration and preventing wilting during transportation. This study underscored the potential of BNC hydrogel, sourced from legume processing wastewater, as an innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable solution for preserving cut rose flowers, promoting the recycling of agricultural by products and enhancing the preservation of horticultural products.

Glucono-δ-lactone induced Auricularia auricula polysaccharide-casein composite gels for curcumin loading and delivery

Polysaccharides could be used to form the network structure of casein (CA) gel, and affect its gelling properties. Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP) has good gel properties and activity, however, how the AAP affects gelling properties of CA gels remains unclear. In this study, AAP and CA were acid-induced by glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) to prepare composite gels for curcumin loading. The effects of different AAP additions on the gel structure were emphasized. Water holding capacity, rheology, texture profile analysis, sulfhydryl content, surface hydrophobicity and gel microstructure showed that the composite gels were most structurally stable upon addition of 0.4 % AAP. The composite gels exhibited a higher strength and a more regular network structure compared to the CA gels. The results of turbidity studies showed that CA and AAP formed gels through electrostatic interactions due to pH < pI. The results of FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated that curcumin interacted with the CA and was successfully encapsulated within the gel. In addition, in vitro simulated digestion experiments demonstrated that the composite gels exhibited better protection against curcumin than the single CA gel. The results suggested that composite gels can be used as a curcumin carrier, which may enhance its wider application in the food and health industries.

Effect of microwave-puffed on Auricularia auricula polysaccharide and probiotic fermentation on its biotransformation and quality characteristics during storage period

In this study, probiotics with superior fermentation performance were screened, and the mixed-bacteria fermentation was carried out with Auricularia auricula treated with microwave-puffed process as fermentation substrate, and the changes in nutritional quality under different storage conditions were investigated. The results showed that the acid and bile salt resistance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 21,801 and 21,805 reached 95 % and 75 % respectively, and the intestinal adhesion was superior; microwave puffing treatment had the highest retention rate of A. auricula polysaccharides and the lowest loss of polyphenols, and no effect on soluble protein. Mixed bacterial fermentation significantly increased the total polyphenols and total flavonoids of A. auricula (p < 0.05), and the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging reached 48.31 % and 73.21 % respectively. Furthermore, the viable counts, DPPH radical scavenging, color, and sensory quality of fermented A. auricula remained stable when stored at 4 °C. In contrast, when stored at 25 °C for 7 days, the taste was unfavorable, undesirable odor and spoilage occurred; by 21 days, DPPH clearance rate dropped below 40 % and color changed significantly (△E > 2). In conclusion, the probiotic mixed fermentation and storage conditions had a significant effect on the biometabolic transformation of macromolecules and other substances in A. auricula.

Auricularia auricula polysaccharide alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced liver injury in mice involving remodeling of the gut bacteriome, mycobiome, and metabolome

In this study, a novel polysaccharide (AHP) from Auricularia auricula was isolated and purified, showing protective effects against CTX-induced liver injury in mice. To study the action mechanism of AHP, a liver injury model was established by intraperitoneally injection 80 mg/kg of CTX for 3 consecutive days. The focus was on how AHP regulated the gut bacteriome and mycobiome to help alleviate metabolic disorders associated with liver injury. Results showed that AHP amended liver injury by improving liver function, stabilizing oxidative stress homeostasis, reducing inflammatory invasion and activating Akt/GSK3β/Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) and Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 (ITS1) sequencing results demonstrated that AHP supplementation significantly restored the gut bacteriome and mycobiome composition in CTX-induced liver injury mice, by enriching the abundance of beneficial bacteriome (unclassified_Muribaculaceae, Faecalibaculum and Alloprevotella) and mycobiome (Fusarium), reducing the abundance of harmful bacteriome (Akkermanisa) and mycobiome (Fusicolla and Cladosporium). Analysis of untargeted metabolomics indicated that AHP altered the levels of metabolites associated with both bile acid and arachidonic acid metabolism, showing a significant connection to the AHP-regulated bacteriome and mycobiome. To conclude, the findings suggested that AHP was a viable and secure candidate for use as a hepatoprotective medication.

Widely Targeted Lipidomics and Microbiomics Perspectives Reveal the Mechanism of Auricularia auricula Polysaccharide's Effect of Regulating Glucolipid Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Mice.

The role of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AP) in the regulation of glycolipid metabolism was investigated using a high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemic mouse model. In a further step, its potential mechanism of action was investigated using microbiome analysis and widely targeted lipidomics. Compared to high-fat mice, dietary AP supplementation reduced body weight by 13.44%, liver index by 21.30%, epididymal fat index by 50.68%, fasting blood glucose (FBG) by 14.27%, serum total cholesterol (TC) by 20.30%, serum total triglycerides (TGs) by 23.81%, liver non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) by 20.83%, liver TGs by 20.00%, and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) by 21.05%, and increased liver glutathione oxidase (GSH-PX) activity by 52.24%, total fecal bile acid (TBA) by 46.21%, and fecal TG by 27.16%, which significantly regulated glucose and lipid metabolism. Microbiome analysis showed that AP significantly downregulated the abundance of the Desulfobacterota phylum, as well as the genii Desulfovibrio, Bilophila, and Oscillbacter in the cecum of hyperlipidemic mice, which are positively correlated with high lipid indexes, while it upregulated the abundance of the families Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group and Ruminococcaceae, as well as the genii Eubacterum_xylanophilum_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Eubacterium_siraeum_group, and Parasutterella, which were negatively correlated with high lipid indexes. In addition, AP promoted the formation of SCFAs by 119.38%. Widely targeted lipidomics analysis showed that AP intervention regulated 44 biomarkers in metabolic pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in the hyperlipidemic mice (of which 15 metabolites such as unsaturated fatty acids, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylethanolamine were upregulated, and 29 metabolites such as phosphatidylcholine, ceramide, carnitine, and phosphatidylinositol were downregulated), thereby correcting glucose and lipid metabolism disorders.

Auricularia auricula Anionic Polysaccharide Nanoparticles for Gastrointestinal Delivery of Pinus koraiensis Polyphenol Used in Bone Protection under Weightlessness.

Auricularia auricula polysaccharides used in Pinus koraiensis polyphenol encapsulation and delivery under weightlessness are rarely reported. In this study, an anionic polysaccharide fragment named AAP Iα with a molecular weight of 133.304 kDa was isolated and purified to construct a polyphenol encapsulation system. Nanoparticles named NPs-PP loaded with a rough surface for Pinus koraiensis polyphenol (PP) delivery were fabricated by AAP Iα and ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL). SEM and the DLS tracking method were used to observe continuous changes in AAP Iα, ε-PL and PP on the nanoparticles' rough surface assembly, as well as the dispersion and stability. Hydrophilic, monodisperse and highly negative charged nanoparticles can be formed at AAP Iα 0.8 mg/mL, ε-PL 20 μg/mL and PP 80 μg/mL. FT-IR was used to determine their electrostatic interactions. Release kinetic studies showed that nanoparticles had an ideal gastrointestinal delivery effect. NPs-PP loaded were assembled through electrostatic interactions between polyelectrolytes after hydrogen bonding formation in PP-AAP Iα and PP-ε-PL, respectively. Colon adhesion properties and PP delivery in vivo of nanoparticles showed that NPs-PP loaded had high adhesion efficiency to the colonic mucosa under simulated microgravity and could enhance PP bioavailability. These results suggest that AAP Iα can be used in PP encapsulation and delivery under microgravity in astronaut food additives.

Preparation of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides and their protective effect on acute oxidative stress injury of Caenorhabditis elegans

This research enhanced the extraction procedure for Auricularia auricula crude polysaccharides by utilizing a modified Fenton reagent as a solvent, and obtained A. auricula polysaccharides (AAPs-VH) via alcohol precipitation and deproteinization. The HPLC profile revealed that the purified AAPs-VH using Sepharose 6FF was mainly a heteropolysaccharide, consisting primarily of mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, and xylose. The Mw and Mn of the purified AAPs-VH were 87.646 kDa and 48.854 kDa, respectively. The FT-IR and NMR spectra revealed that the purified AAPs-VH belonged to pyranose and were mainly formed by (1 → 3)-linked-β-D glucan formation. In vivo experiments conducted with Caenorhabditis elegans, AAPs-VH was found to notably influence the lifespan, improve the antioxidant system, and decrease the level of cell apoptosis. This might be achieved by up-regulating the expression of genes in the IIS and TOR pathways. The study concludes that the modified Fenton reagent can increase Auricularia auricula polysaccharide solubleness and active sites, which may be an essential prompt for future studies.

Auricularia auricula polysaccharides attenuate obesity in mice through gut commensal Papillibacter cinnamivorans

IntroductionAuricularia auricula is a well-known traditional edible and medical fungus with high nutritional and pharmacological values, as well as metabolic and immunoregulatory properties. Nondigestible fermentable polysaccharides are identified as primary bioactive constituents of Auricularia auricula extracts. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP) on obesity and related metabolic endpoints, including the role of the gut microbiota, remain insufficiently understood. MethodsThe effects of AAP on obesity were assessed within high-fat diet (HFD)-based mice through obesity trait analysis and metabolomic profiling. To determine the mechanistic role of the gut microbiota in observed anti-obesogenic effects AAP, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and pseudo-germ-free mice model treated with antibiotics were also applied, together with 16S rRNA genomic-derived taxonomic profiling. ResultsHigh-fat diet (HFD) murine exposure to AAP thwarted weight gains, reduced fat depositing and enhanced glucose tolerance, together with upregulating thermogenesis proteomic biomarkers within adipose tissue. Serum metabolome indicated these effects were associated with changes in fatty acid metabolism. Intestine-dwelling microbial population assessments discovered that AAP selectively enhanced Papillibacter cinnamivorans, a commensal bacterium with reduced presence in HFD mice. Notably, HFD mice treated with oral formulations of P. cinnamivorans attenuated obesity, which was linked to decreased intestinal lipid transportation and hepatic thermogenesis. Mechanistically, it was demonstrated that P. cinnamivorans regulated intestinal lipids metabolism and liver thermogenesis by reducing the proinflammatory response and gut permeability in a JAK-STAT signaling-related manner. ConclusionDatasets from the present study show that AAP thwarted dietary-driven obesity and metabolism-based disorders by regulating intestinal lipid transportation, a mechanism that is dependent on the gut commensal P. cinnamivorans. These results indicated AAP and P. cinnamivorans as newly identified pre- and probiotics that could serve as novel therapeutics against obesity.

Effect of deep eutectic solvent extraction on Auricularia auricula polysaccharide solubilization and antioxidant potential

This study was conducted to assess the potential of a green and eco-friendly technique: ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic extraction (UAE-DES) for the preparation of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAPs), and to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the products. Firstly, the optimal parameters for AAPs by Box-Behnken using deionized water as the solvents, and the yield was 25.07% ± 0.43% at 50 °C, 70 mL/g of liquid-to-material ratio and 150 W of ultrasonic power. Next, the effects of five types of DES on the output of the AAPs under this parameter were investigated. DES (ethylene glycol-choline chloride, molar ratio of 2:1) containing 40% water increased the yield by 18.68%. The molecular weight of AAPs-UW (using deionized water as solvents) was 851.029 kDa, while the UAE-DES fractured AAPs-UD (using DES as solvents) into three polysaccharides, 811.895, 277.178 and 15.520 kDa, respectively. AAPs-UD showed significantly stronger ABTS+/OH·/DPPH· scavenging capacity than AAPs-UW. Compared with AAPs-UW, AAPs-UD treatment prolonged the maximum lifespan and the mean survival time of C. elegans at low concentration. In addition, qRT-PCR results indicated that AAPs-UD could up-regulate the expression levels of antioxidant related genes such as daf-16, sir-2.1 and sod-3 in the insulin and IGF-1 signaling pathway (>1.50, p < 0.05), and the expression of skn-1 in the target of rapamycin pathway (>1.70, p < 0.05).

Preparation, characterization of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide-based films and application in meat preservation

In order to find a degradable biofilm，edible films of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP) were prepared and characterized optically, morphologically, and mechanically in terms of barrier, bactericidal, and antioxidant properties and evaluated for their potential application in cold meat packaging. The results showed that films prepared from 40 % AAP had the best mechanical properties, with smooth and homogeneous surfaces, good water barrier properties and also good preservation of cold meat. Thus, Auricularia auricula polysaccharide is a composite membrane additive with great potential for application.

The Current State and Future Prospects of Auricularia auricula's Polysaccharide Processing Technology Portfolio.

Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP) have been widely studied in the field of medicine and healthcare because of their unique structure and physiological activity. Many species of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides have been extracted, isolated, and purified by different methods, and their structures have been analyzed. Auricularia auricula polysaccharides have been proven to have beneficial effects on the human body, including slowing the aging process, controlling the intestinal system, and treating cardiovascular disorders. In this paper, the extraction, isolation, and purification of AAP from Auricularia auricula, as well as research in the field of medicine and healthcare, have pointed to the shortcomings and limitations of these methods. We also suggest future research directions for Auricularia auricula polysaccharides; standardized processing methods must be confirmed, and officially approved AAPs are needed for commercial applications. Finally, an optimistic outlook on the development of AAPs is given.

Synergistic effect of polysaccharides and flavonoids on lipid and gut microbiota in hyperlipidemic rats.

Hyperlipidemia is a global health risk factor, and its development is closely related to the absorption and metabolism of lipids in the intestine. In this study, the Auricularia auricula polysaccharide, the Tremella polysaccharide, and hawthorn flavonoids were mixed by equal weight (HDC), and then its effect on the intervention in the intestine and blood lipids of hyperlipidemic rats on a high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated. The results revealed that HDC significantly inhibited the development of hyperlipidemia and reduced lipid levels and fat accumulation. In addition, HDC improved the edema deformation of intestinal epithelial cells, impaired the intestinal barrier induced by HFD, and improved the antioxidant capacity of the intestine. HDC showed a significant synergistic effect. Analysis of the gut microbiota by 16s rRNA gene sequencing showed that HDC reduced the ratio of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes and the relative abundance of actinomycetes. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Rumincococcaceae-UCG-14, and Muribaculaceae was increased and the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Corynebacterium-1, Blautia, and Turicibucter was decreased. Intestinal lipidomics showed that HDC reduced the levels of DGDG, LPE, PG, phSM, PIP2, SoG1, and SM in the intestine of HFD rats, although there were no significant differences in LPE, PG, and phSM. 42 HDC-acting lipid biomarkers were screened. In conclusion, these findings support the potential of HDC intervention to prevent hyperlipidemia by regulating gut microbiota and lipid absorption and metabolism in the intestine.

Effects of the Extraction Solvents on Dissolution Rate and Antioxidant Capacity of Auricularia auricula (Agaricomycetes) Polysaccharides In Vitro and In Vivo.

This paper reports the effects of solvents on the dissolution rate and antioxidant capacity of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAPs). The ultra-low temperature combined with microwave extraction (UME) was used to compare the dissolution rates and molecular weights of AAPs using deionized water and deep eutectic solvents (DES) as solvents, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the effects of water extract (AAPs-FW) and DES extract (AAPs-FD) on the cell wall of A. auricula. The antioxidant capacity of polysaccharide extracts in vitro was assessed by using various methods (DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals). In addition, in vivo oxidative stress was assessed using Caenorhabditis elegans models. The extract yield of AAPs varied among the extracts and was 19.58% ± 0.56% in AAPs-FW. Whereas DES-UME increased the yield of polysaccharides (AAPs-FD) by 9.81% in the extraction medium containing triethylene glycol-choline chloride, under the optimum conditions of 60 min freezing time, 350 W, and 90 s microwave time. The microstructure of the cell wall shown by SEM was consistent with the results of polysaccharide yields. The molecular weights of AAPs-FW and AAPs-FD were found to be 398.107 kDa and 89.099 kDa, respectively. The results demonstrated that AAPs-FD exhibited potent radical scavenging activity against DPPH and a weaker scavenging ability for ABTS and OH radicals compared to AAPs-FW. In addition, both polysaccharide extracts increased the survival rate of C. elegans under methyl viologen induced oxidative stress at specific concentrations (p < 0.05), and the antioxidant capacity of AAPs-FD was higher than that of AAPs-FW at low concentrations (0.125 mg/mL). This indicated that both polysaccharides had a protective effect against damage induced by intracellular free radical generators (methyl viologen).

Effects of Auricularia auricula Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota Composition in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

In previous studies, Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP) has been found to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus, but its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we sought to demonstrate that AAP achieves remission by altering the gut microbiota in mice with type 2 diabetes. We successfully constructed a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ), following which fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and oral glucose tolerance test (OTGG) were observed to decrease significantly after 5 weeks of AAP intervention. Furthermore, AAP enhanced the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) to alleviate the oxidative stress injury. AAP-M (200 mg/kg/d) displayed the best improvement effect. Moreover, 16S rRNA results showed that AAP decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and increased that of Bacteroidetes. The abundance of beneficial genera such as Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella, Alloprevotella, and those belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae was increased due to the intake of AAP. AAP could reduced the abundance of Desulfovibrio, Enterorhabdus, and Helicobacter. In all, these results suggest that AAP can improve the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating the structure of the gut microbiota.

Pasteurization of Salmonella spp. in black fungus (Auricularia auricula) powder by radio frequency heating.

Radio frequency (RF) heating has been studied to inactivate bacteria in some powder foods. In this study, a 6 kW, 27.12 MHz RF system was used to pasteurize Salmonella in black fungus (Auricularia auricula) powder. The effects of different conditions (initial aw, electrodes gaps, particle sizes) on RF heating rate and uniformity were investigated. The results showed that RF heating rate was significantly (p < 0.05) improved with decreasing electrodes gap and increasing initial aw, and the heating rate was the slowest when the particle size was 120-160 mesh. However, these factors had no significant (p > 0.05) influence on heating uniformity. RF pasteurization of Salmonella in black fungus powder was also studied. The results showed that, to inactivate Salmonella for 5 log reductions in the cold spot (the center of surface layer), the time needed and bacteria heat resistance at designated temperature (65, 75, 85 °C) decreased with increasing aw, and the first order kinetics and Weibull model could be used to fit inactivation curves of Salmonella with well goodness. Quality analysis results showed that although RF pasteurization had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP) and total polyphenols, obvious changes were found on color. Results suggested that RF pasteurization can be considered as an effective pasteurization method for black fungus powder.

Effects of Auricularia auricula Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Phenotype in Mice.

Personalized diets change the internal metabolism of organisms, which, in turn, affects the health of the body; this study was performed to explore the regulatory effects of polysaccharides extracted from Auricularia auricula on the overall metabolism and gut microbiota in normal C57BL/6J mice. The study was conducted using metabolomic and microbiomic methods to provide a scientific basis for further development and use of Auricularia auricula resources in the Qinba Mountains and in nutritional food with Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAP) as the main functional component. Based on LC-MS/MS metabolomic results, 51 AAP-regulated metabolites were found, mainly enriched in the arginine biosynthesis pathway, which had the highest correlation, followed by the following metabolisms: arginine and proline; glycine, serine and threonine; and glycerophospholipid, along with the sphingolipid metabolism pathway. Furthermore, supplementation of AAP significantly changed the composition of the mice intestinal flora. The relative abundance levels of Lactobacillus johnsonii, Weissella cibaria, Kosakonia cowanii, Enterococcus faecalis, Bifidobacterium animalis and Bacteroides uniformis were markedly up-regulated, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes bacterium M10-2 was down-regulated. The bioactivities of AAP may be related to the regulatory effects of endogenous metabolism and gut microbiota composition.

Comparison on chemical features and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Auricularia auricula by three different enzymes.

To investigate and compare the chemical features and antioxidant activities of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAPs), three different AAPs (AAP-M, AAP-D, and AAP-C) were prepared by mannanase, β-dextranase, and cellulase. Their chemical features were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The antioxidant properties were performed both in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that the surface morphology of the A. auricula cell wall treated with three enzymes was slightly different under scanning electron microscopy. The extraction yields of AAP-M, AAP-D, and AAP-C were 18.33% ± 1.93%, 26.42% ± 0.87%, and 17.17% ± 0.08% under optimal conditions, respectively. The monosaccharide composition, molecular weight (AAP-M, AAP-D, and AAP-C were 1.03E+03kDa, 1.76E+03kDa, and 1.15E+03kDa, respectively), and antioxidant activities of the three AAPs were different. AAP-C composed of mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, and galactose, exhibiting the remarkable ability of scavenging ABTS+ , DPPH, and H2 O2 (IC50 was 0.065, 0.081, and 0.293mg/ml, respectively). Moreover, AAP-C could significantly prolonged the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans under oxidative stress (p<.05). The results showed that cellulase could be served as an efficient enzyme to prepare AAPs with higher antioxidant capacity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: According to the statistics of China Edible Fungi Association in 2019, the output of Auricularia auricula was accounting for 17.54% of the total output of edible fungi. AAPs account for more than 60% of the fruiting bodies and have various biological activities. Cell wall breaking is an important process of extracting AAPs which has always been the bottleneck restricting the production of AAPs. The traditional chemical acid-base method will pollute the environment, and the yield of hot water extraction is low. In contrast, the bioenzyme method widely used because of its mild conditions and environmental friendly. In this paper, three common bioenzymes which have been widely used in food industry were used to extract AAPs, and Box-Behnken design to improve the yield of AAPs. The results show that AAP-C had high yield and strong antioxidant activity. This study could provide a reference for the industrial production of AAPs.

Complexation behavior of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide and whey protein isolate: Characterization and potential beverage application

The formation of soluble complexes between whey proteins and polysaccharides has potentially useful applications in the beverage industry. In this study, Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AP) and A. auricula extract (EAA) were prepared and their complexation behavior with whey protein isolate (WPI) was studied at pH 4.7 in order to ensure protein dispersal and avoid precipitation to achieve enhanced WPI stability. Both AP and EAA enhanced stability of 2%–4% WPI via the formation of complexes. WPI-AP and WPI-EAA solutions exhibited characteristics resembling steady pseudoplastic fluid. Heat treatment further resulted in altered structures of formed complexes which improved stability. Sensory evaluation by electronic tongue indicated that AP and EAA could relieve astringency of the WPI solution induced in acidic pH. This study provided the theoretical basis and demonstrated the potential application of a novel WPI-enriched beverage. Practical applications Functional Auricularia auricula polysaccharides and an A. auricula extract were shown to enhance stability of high concentrated whey protein isolate solutions. In this study, a potential commercially exploitable healthy beverage was developed. Furthermore, the foundation for its production is provided, which does not involve polysaccharide extraction steps thereby preserving the nutritional value of polysaccharide-rich ingredients.

The lipid lowering and antioxidative stress potential of polysaccharide from Auricularia auricula prepared by enzymatic method

An efficient extraction method of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAPs) by neutral protease was developed and optimized by response surface methodology. AAPs were graded by stepwise ethanol precipitation, the fraction with high recovery rate and strong radical scavenging rate were obtained, then its antioxidant and lipid lowering effect were studied using Caenorhabditis elegans as model organism. The extract yield and ABTS+ scavenging rates of AAPs could reach 14.90% and 86.0% at 50 °C, 75 mL/g of liquid-to-material ratio and pH 9.0. AAP3 obtained by 15% ethanol was a heteropolysaccharide comprised of mannose, glucose, glucuronic acid, xylose, galactose and glucosamine. AAP3 could significantly prolong the lifespan of C. elegans and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalases (CAT) at 0.25 mg/mL (p < 0.05). The qRT-PCR results showed that AAP3 could up regulate mRNA expression levels of daf-16 and skn-1 (>1.6 fold) at 0.25 mg/mL. Besides, AAP3 could significantly reduce the level of body fat and triglyceride in C. elegans (p < 0.05). These studies demonstrated that A. auricula polysaccharides prepared by neutral protease had a prominent protective effect to the damage induced by the intracellular free radical generating agents.

Ultrasonic–assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Auricularia auricula and effects of its acid hydrolysate on the biological function of Caenorhabditis elegans

The present study was designed to explore the in vivo-antioxidant capacity and the probable mechanism of AAPs-H, prepared from Auricularia auricula polysaccharides with the optimal extraction conditions by Box–Behnken design and acid hydrolysis, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. The effects of AAPs-H on the locomotion behavior, life span, antioxidant-related enzymes activities, and antioxidants levels in C. elegans were studied. Furthermore, the potentials of AAPs-H in up-regulating the expression of antioxidant-related genes in C. elegans, such as skn-1, sod-3 and sir-2.1, were also discussed. AAPs-H demonstrated a highly significant protective effect against the damage caused by paraquat, could significantly increase U-Turn frequency of worms (p < 0.01), extend their lifespan, enhance antioxidant systems including GR by 63.96% (p < 0.05), GSH-Px by 71.16% (p < 0.01), SOD by 78.65% (p < 0.01) and CAT by 98.52% (p < 0.01), increase the level of GSH by 28.12% (p < 0.05), and decrease the level of MDA by 39.29% (p < 0.01). The qRT-PCR results showed that AAPs-H could up regulate mRNA expression levels of skn-1, sod-1, sod-2, sod-3 and sir-2.1 in wild-type C. elegans (>1.6 fold) when treated with the concentration of 0.4 mg/mL (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Our studies provide evidence that AAPs-H improves antioxidant defense system, and up-regulation of oxidative stress related genes for prevention of stress damage in C. elegans.