Intense pulsed light-assisted water extraction of polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes: In vitro structural characterization and verification of antioxidant activities

Polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes ( L. edodes ) exhibit antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities, but conventional extraction is limited by low efficiency and potential loss of bioactivity. This study evaluated the effects of intense pulsed light (IPL)-assisted extraction on the physicochemical, structural, rheological, and antioxidant properties of L. edodes polysaccharides (LNTs). The ternary IUEH method increased polysaccharide yield (92.7%) and uronic acid content (25.96%) compared with hot water extraction, while improving protein removal and preserving acidic fractions. IPL induced partial depolymerization without altering the β-(1 → 3)-glucan backbones, leading to macromolecular reorganization and improved thermal stability. IPL-treated LNTs exhibited increased pseudoplasticity and elasticity. In simulated digestion, IUEH-derived LNTs showed higher reducing sugar release and DPPH radical scavenging activity (70.55%). These findings demonstrate that IPL-assisted extraction efficiently produces structurally optimized LNTs with improved functional properties, supporting their potential application as functional food ingredients.