Complex starch is gaining research attention due to its unique physicochemical and functional properties. Lotus seed starch (LS) suspensions (6.7%, w/v) with added green tea polyphenols (GTPs) (10%, w/w) were subjected to ultrasound (200-1000 W)-microwave (150-225 W) (UM) treatment for 15 min. The effects of UM treatment on the physicochemical properties of the LS-GTP system were investigated and exceeded that of microwave or ultrasound alone. The properties (morphology, X-ray diffraction pattern and so on) were affected by GTPs to various extents, depending on ultrasonic power. These influences may be explained by the non-covalent interactions between GTPs and LS. V-type LS-GTP inclusion complex and non-inclusive complex formation were observed. Their morphology and the distribution of GTPs molecules within them were estimated using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, the digestion of LS-GTP complex was investigated by a dynamic in vitro rat stomach-duodenum (DIVRSD) model, lower digestion efficiency of LS has been achieved and the residues showed gradual improvement in morphology. These all experimental results do provide new insight into the complex starch production.

Three novel low molecular weight polysaccharides (RLP‐1a, RLP‐2a, and RLP‐3a) with 9004, 8761, and 7571 Da were first obtained by purifying the crude polysaccharides from the fruits of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb Rosae Laevigatae. The conditions for polysaccharides from the R. Laevigatae fruit (RLP) extraction were optimized by the response surface methodology, and the optimal conditions were as follows: extraction temperature, 93°C; extraction time, 2.8 h; water to raw material ratio, 22; extraction frequency, 3. Structural characterization showed that RLP‐1a consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, glucose, and galactose with the ratio of 3.14 : 8.21 : 1 : 1.37 : 4.90, whereas RLP‐2a was composed of rhamnose, mannose, glucose, and galactose with the ratio of 1.70 : 1 : 93.59 : 2.73, and RLP‐3a was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and galactose with the ratio of 6.04 : 26.51 : 2.05 : 1 : 3.17 : 31.77. The NMR analyses revealed that RLP‐1a, RLP‐2a, and RLP‐3a contained 6, 4, and 6 types of glycosidic linkages, respectively. RLP‐1a and RLP‐3a exhibited distinct antioxidant abilities on the superoxide anions, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. RLPs could decrease the serum lipid levels, elevate the serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, enhance the antioxidant enzymes levels, and upregulate of FADS2, ACOX3, and SCD‐1 which involved in the lipid metabolic processes and oxidative stress in the high‐fat diet‐induced rats. These results suggested that RLPs ameliorated the high‐fat diet‐ (HFD‐) induced lipid metabolism disturbance in the rat liver through the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. Low molecular weight polysaccharides of RLP could be served as a novel potential functional food for improving hyperlipidemia and liver oxidative stress responses.