Effects of different extraction methods on the physicochemical properties and biological activities of polysaccharides from maca roots

Abstract

Maca is rich in bioactive compounds and has considerable potential for commercial application as a functional food material. In this study, maca root polysaccharides (MRPs) were prepared via hot water extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based UAE, and their physicochemical properties and biological activities were compared. The MRP obtained using DES-based UAE (MRP-DU) exhibited the highest yield (30.85%), oil-holding capacity (5.21 g/g), emulsifying capacity (50.58%), and emulsion stability (48.14%). Additionally, MRP-DU exhibited the highest antidiabetic and absorption-retarding effects on glucose and bile acid. These results suggest that MRP obtained using DES-based UAE have high application potential as functional food materials and could also serve as antidiabetic and cholesterol-lowering agents.