Optimization of enzymatic auxiliary ultrasonic extraction of polysaccharide from Atractylodes chinensis and its antitumor activity in vitro

Objective To optimize the enzymatic auxiliary ultrasonic extraction of polysaccharide from Atractylodes chinensis by biological enzyme technology and to study its antitumor activity in vitro. Methods Cellulase and pectinase were used for hydrolysis and then ultrasonic extracting method was chosen to extract the polysaccharide from roots of A. chinensis. The yield of polysaccharide purity from crude polysaccharide was taken as indicators. Based on single-factor test, the ultrasonic-assisted extracting technology of A. chinensis polysaccharide was optimized by L9(34) orthogonal test, and four factors included enzymolysis temperature, enzyme content, enzymolysis pH value, and enzymolysis time with three levels. The phenol-sulphuric acid method was applied for the determination of polysaccharide, and then using MTS and trypan blue staining to study antitumor activity on the polysaccharides. Results The optimal enzymolysis extracting conditions of A. chinensis polysaccharide were as follows: temperature was 50 ℃, content was 1.2%, pH value was 5, and time was 50 min. Under the conditions, the purity of polysaccharide was 32.29%, and inhibitory rate of polysaccharide on the proliferation of HeLa cells was 64.42%. Conclusion Enzymatic auxiliary for ultrasonic extraction process has the advantages of short time, simple operation, and higher extract rate, which could provide the reference for development and utilization of A. chinensis.