Comparison of extraction processes, characterization and intestinal protection activity of Bletilla striata polysaccharides

We optimized the extraction process of Bletilla striata polysaccharides using orthogonal design, Box-Behnken design (BBD), and genetic algorithm-back propagation (GA-BP), then compared and evaluated them to confirm that the combination of BBD and GA-BP neural networks was capable of increasing polysaccharide yields and antioxidant activity. The optimal extraction parameters were as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio of 15 mL/g, extraction power of 450 W, and extraction time of 34 min. Under these conditions, the polysaccharide yield and antioxidant activity were 8.29 ± 0.50 % and 26.20 ± 0.28 (mM FE/mg). Subsequently, the polysaccharide was purified to obtain purified Bletilla striata polysaccharides 1 (pBSP1) with a Mw of 255.172 kDa. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), ultraviolet-visible detector (UV), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and periodate oxidation were used to analyze the structure of pBSP1. The results showed pBSP1 had a smooth surface and a rough interior, with a composition of α-D conformation glucose (18.23 %) and β-D conformation mannose (53.77 %), and an amorphous crystal structure. According to the results of thermogravimetric and rheological tests, pBSP1 exhibits good thermal stability and viscoelastic behavior. Furthermore, pBSP1 protected lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced GES − 1 and Caco2 cells, the results showed pBSP1(400 μg/mL) lowered TEER synthesis in Caco2 cells as well as apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in both cells, indicating that pBSP1 may have an intestine protective effect.