Lactobacilli-derived exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are widely regarded as safe and have been employed as potential natural, non-toxic additives and functional agents in food industry. The structural properties of a galactose-rich exopolysaccharide produced by Limosilactobacillus fermentum YL-11 (YL-11 EPS) were investigated with chemical and instrumental analysis. The YL-11 EPS was determined to have a molecular weight (Mw) of 13.2 kDa. Nine different types of glycosidic bonds were identified in YL-11 EPS. The inferred structure of the YL-11 EPS contained the backbone of →2)-β-D-Galp-(1→[3)-β-D-Galp-(1]4 → 3)-β-D-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-D-Galp-(1→, with two side chains, β-D-Galp-(1 → 6)-α-D-Manp-(1 → 6)-[α-D-Glcp-1→2]-α-D-Manp-(1 → 3)-[α-D-Glcp-1→6]-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 3)-[α-D-Glcp-1→6]-α-D-Glcp-(1→ with an acetyl group at the O-3 position of →2,6-α-D-Manp-1→ and α-L-Araf-(1→, which were present at the C6 location of the 1,3-β-D-Galp. The YL-11 EPS showed concentration-dependent antioxidant activities and the DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl groups and superoxide radicals scavenging rates of 10 mg/mL YL-11 EPS reached 61%, 74%, 35.4% and 40%, respectively. The YL-11 EPS also has a beneficial protective impact on H2O2-injured cells, which pretreatment with YL-11 EPS can substantially decrease ROS levels and enhance SOD enzyme activity. Additionally, the YL-11 EPS exhibited good thickening properties and thermal stability. The EPS's structural information and physicochemical properties provide a basis for studying their structure-function relationships.
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