Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of Scutellaria baicalensis root polysaccharide and its hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory activities

Scutellaria baicalensis is a medicinal plant possessing abundant bioactive polysaccharides. This study aimed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of S. baicalensis root polysaccharide (SRP) and investigate its hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory activities. The optimal extraction conditions found in this study were as follows: cellulase concentration 165.6 U/mL, temperature 57.3 degrees C, liquid-solid ratio 44.8 mL/g, time 50 min, and ultrasonic power 225 W; with the yield reached up to 12.27 %. The ion exchange and gel filtration chro-matographies were used to obtain a purified SRP. The carbohydrate content of SRP was 85.09 %, with a rela-tively high content of uronic acids (11.27 %). The SRP had a molecular weight of 89.7 kDa and was composed of eight monosaccharides. The inhibitory activity of SRP against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase was determined. It was revealed that SRP could effectively inhibit these two enzymes with IC50 values of 1.23 and 0.63 mg/mL, respectively. Finally, the immunomodulatory effect of SRP on the dendritic cell activation was investigated, and the expressions of MHC II, CD80, CD86, and CD40 increased by 1.56, 1.96, 1.75, and 1.70 times, respectively, by the SRP treatment. This work will provide a foundation for SRP's efficient extraction and utilization for diabetes and immune therapy.

Automated summary

This study optimized the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of Scutellaria baicalensis root polysaccharide (SRP) and investigated its hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory activities. The optimal extraction conditions were determined, and a purified SRP was obtained. The SRP showed inhibitory activity against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, and it also exhibited an immunomodulatory effect on dendritic cell activation. This research provides a basis for the efficient extraction and utilization of SRP for diabetes and immune therapy.