The interaction between polyphenols and polysaccharides plays an important role in increasing the turbidity stability of fruit juice and improving unpleasant sensory experiences. The binding adsorption behavior between hawthorn pectin (HP) and polyphenols (epicatechin and chlorogenic acid) accorded with the monolayer adsorption behavior driven by chemical action and were better fitted by pseudo-second order dynamic equation and Langmuir model. The HP binding sites (Q_m) and adsorption capacity (Q_e) to epicatechin were estimated at 75.188 and 293.627 μg/mg HP, respectively, which was about nine and twelve times higher than that of chlorogenic acid. The interaction between HP and polyphenols exhibited higher turbidity characteristics, particle size and lower zeta potential than epicatechin and chlorogenic acid alone. Meanwhile, according to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, it could be speculated that the interaction between HP and polyphenols resulted in chemical combination. Moreover, ΔH < 0 and TΔS < 0, which indicated that the interaction between HP and polyphenols was mainly driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for over 80% of lung cancer cases and remains challenging to treat due to high recurrence and mortality rates. While cisplatin (CDDP) is a first-line chemotherapy for NSCLC, its clinical utility is limited by toxicity, drug resistance, and inadequate tumor suppression. Plant-derived extracts have shown promise as complementary therapies, offering potential benefits including enhanced efficacy and reduced treatment side effects. The aqueous extract of Actinidia eriantha Benth. root (WE-AER) exhibits significant antitumor activity, though its mechanisms in NSCLC remain unclear. This study demonstrates WE-AER’s potent anti-NSCLC effects through multiple mechanisms. In vitro, WE-AER dose-dependently inhibited A549 cell growth (74.74% inhibition, IC50 = 210.38 µg/mL) by inducing apoptosis via TGF-β/FOXO/mTOR pathway modulation. In vivo, WE-AER suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis while activating immune responses and reducing inflammation in mouse models, with excellent biosafety. These findings elucidate WE-AER’s anticancer mechanisms and support its potential as a novel herbal therapy for NSCLC.