To obtain the optimal process for the enzyme−assisted aqueous extraction of polysaccharides from Acanthopanax senticosus, and study the physicochemical properties of polysaccharides of different molecular weights, the extraction of Acanthopanax polysaccharides was optimized using the BBD response surface test. The polysaccharides with different molecular weights were obtained by ethanol−graded precipitation at 40%, 60%, and 80%, which were presented as ASPS40, ASPS60, and ASPS80. The polysaccharides were analyzed by HPGPC, ion chromatography, FT−IR, UV, SEM, TGA, XRD, Congo red, and I₂−KI tests. The antioxidant assay was used to evaluate their antioxidant properties in vitro. The findings demonstrated that the recovery rate of Acanthopanax polysaccharide was 10.53 ± 0.682%, which is about 2.5 times greater compared to the conventional method of hot water extraction. Based on FT−IR, TGA, polysaccharides with different molecular weights did not differ in their structure or thermal stability. The XRD suggests that the internal structure of ASPSs is amorphous. Congo red and I₂−KI showed that all three polysaccharides had triple helix structures with longer branched chains and more side chains. Furthermore, the antioxidant results showed the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides is not only related to the molecular weight size but also can be related to its composition and structure. These studies developed a green, and scalable method to produce polysaccharides from Acanthopanax senticosus and evaluated the properties of Acanthopanax polysaccharides of different molecular weights.

In order to improve the aqueous solubility and enhance the bioavailability of Hyperoside (Hyp), three inclusion complexes (ICs) of Hyp with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2H-β-CD), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (M-β-CD) were prepared using the ultrasonic method. The characterization of the inclusion complexes (ICs) was achieved using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The effects of the ICs on the solubility and antioxidant activity of Hyp were investigated. A Job’s plot revealed that the Hyp formed ICs with three kinds of cyclodextrin (CD), all at a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. The FTIR, SEM, XRPD, TLC, and ¹H NMR results confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes. The water solubility of the IC of Hyp with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was enhanced 9-fold compared to the solubility of the original Hyp. The antioxidant activity tests showed that the inclusion complexes had higher antioxidant activities compared to free Hyp in vitro and the H₂O₂–RAW264.7 cell model. Therefore, encapsulation with CDs can not only improve Hyp’s water solubility but can also enhance its biological activity, which provides useful information for the potential application of complexation with Hyp in a clinical context.

A green extraction method was developed using deep eutectic solvent extraction for the polysaccharide from Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus). Among the eight types of DES prepared, the DES with a ratio of 1:4 L-malic acid to L-proline was found to be a suitable extraction solvent based on the extraction efficiency. The extraction parameters were optimized by Plackett–Burman and response surface methodology (RSM). The best extraction conditions were found for L-malic acid. Under the conditions of an L-malic acid/L-proline ratio of 1:4, ultrasonic power of 240 W, material–liquid ratio of 31.068 g/mL, water content of 32.364%, extraction time of 129.119 min, and extraction temperature of 60 °C, the extraction rate of A. senticosus polysaccharides was 35.452 ± 0.388 mg-g⁻¹. This rate was higher than that of polysaccharides obtained by hot water extraction (13.652 ± 0.09 mg-g⁻¹). The experimental results were best fitted by the quasi-secondary kinetic model when compared to two other kinetic models. Electron microscopic observations showed that DESs were more destructive to plant cells. The polysaccharide extracted from DESs had more monosaccharide components, a lower molecular weight, a higher antioxidant capacity, and superior anti-glycation activity compared to polysaccharides extracted from water (ASPS-PW). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of DESs in obtaining polysaccharides from A. senticosus.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low molecular weight Acanthopanax polysaccharides on simulated digestion, probiotics, and intestinal flora of broilers in vitro. The experiments were carried out by H₂O₂-Vc degradation of Acanthopanax polysaccharides, in vitro simulated digestion to evaluate the digestive performance of polysaccharides with different molecular weights, in vitro probiotic evaluation of the probiotic effect of polysaccharides on lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, in vitro anaerobic fermentation and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to study the impact of Acanthopanax polysaccharides on the intestinal flora of broilers, and the effect of Acanthopanax polysaccharides on the short-chain fatty acids of intestines were determined by GC-MS method. The results showed that the molecular weight of Acanthopanax polysaccharide (ASPS) was 9,543 Da, and the molecular weights of polysaccharides ASPS-1 and ASPS-2 were reduced to 4,288 Da and 3,822 Da after degradation, and the particle sizes, PDIs, and viscosities were also significantly decreased. ASPS-1 has anti-digestive properties and better in vitro probiotic properties. The addition of ASPS-1 regulates the structure of intestinal microorganisms by regulating fecalibacterium to produce short-chain fatty acids, promoting the colonization of beneficial bacteria such as fecalibacterium, paraprevotella and diminishing the prevalence of detrimental bacteria such as Fusobacteria. Interestingly the ASPS-1 group found higher levels of Paraprevotella, which degraded trypsin in the gut, reducing inflammation, acted as a gut protector, and was influential in increasing the levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and total SCFAs in the fermented feces. Therefore, the degraded ASPS-1 can better regulate the structure of intestinal flora and promote the production of SCFAs, creating possibilities for its use as a potential prebiotic, which is conducive to the intestinal health of poultry.

Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide–nano-selenium (ASPS-SENPS) and A. selenopanax selenized polysaccharides (Se-ASPS) were synthesized, and their characterization and biological properties were compared. The acid extraction method was used to extract the polysaccharides of A. selenopanax, followed by decolorization using the hydrogen peroxide method and deproteinization based on the Sevage method, and the purification of A. senticosus polysaccharides (ASPS) was carried out using the cellulose DEAE-52 ion column layer analysis method. An A. senticosus polysaccharide–nano-selenium complex was synthesized by a chemical reduction method using ASPS as dispersants. The selenization of polysaccharides from A. selenopanax was carried out using the HNO₃-Na₂SeO₃ method. The chemical compositions, scanning electron microscopy images, infrared spectra, and antioxidant properties of ASPS-SENPS and Se-ASPS were studied, and they were also subjected to thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the optimal conditions for the synthesis of ASPS-SENPS include the following: when ASPS accounts for 10%, the ratio of ascorbic acid and sodium selenium should be 4:1, the response time should be 4 h, and the reaction temperature should be 50 °C. The most favorable conditions for the synthesis of Se-ASPS were as follows: m (Na₂SeO₃):m (ASPS) = 4:5, response temperature = 50 °C, and response time = 11.0 h. In the in vitro antioxidant assay, when the mass concentration of Se-ASPS and ASPS-SENPS was 5 mg/mL, the removal rates for DPPH free radicals were 88.44 ± 2.83% and 98.89 ± 3.57%, respectively, and the removal rates for ABTS free radicals were 90.11 ± 3.43% and 98.99 ± 1.73%, respectively, stronger than those for ASPS. The current study compares the physiological and bioactivity effects of ASPS-SENPS and Se-ASPS, providing a basis for future studies on polysaccharides.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of degraded polysaccharide of Acanthopanax senticosus (ASPS-1) on the immunological effects and appropriate dosage of broiler chicks with a view to developing a new feed additive. For the experimental design, 180 broiler chicks were randomly divided into six groups, ASPS-1 low, medium and high dose groups, undegraded Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) low and medium dose groups and blank control group. The drug was administered for 21 consecutive days, and the growth and data of immune organ index and immune factors were recorded on the 7th, 14th and 21st d. Finally, the effect of ASPS-1 on the intestinal flora of broiler chicks was investigated by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and the correlation between the main flora and intestinal indexes was analyzed, and the function of microbial community was predicted by using PICRUSt2. The results showed that the addition of high dose of ASPS-1 could promote the body weight growth of broiler chicks, had no significant effect on immune organs, significantly promoted the increase of intestinal villi and crypt ratio, and effectively regulated the levels of serum antioxidant factors and immune indexes. Analysis of the intestinal flora showed that ASPS-1H promoted the proliferation of Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Negativibacillus, and Eubacterium and inhibited the colonization of Desulfovibrio and Turicibacter, and that proliferation of Faecalibacterium, Negativibacillus and Eubacterium was associated with the development of intestinal villi. Predictive analysis of PICRUSt2 function indicates that proliferation of Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Negativibacillus and Eubacterium functions through amino acid metabolism, global and overview maps, replication and repair pathways function. In summary, the addition of high doses of ASPS-1 can improve the immunity of broilers and has the potential to be used as a feed additive.