Ultrasound-assisted extraction and characteristics of maize polysaccharides from different sites

Antitumor, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and immunomodulatory properties are all exhibited by maize polysaccharides. With the increasing sophistication of maize polysaccharide extraction methods, enzymatic method is no longer limited to a single enzyme to extract polysaccharides, and is more often used in combination with ultrasound or microwave, or combination with different enzymes. Ultrasound has a good cell wall-breaking effect, making it easier to dislodge lignin and hemicellulose from the cellulose surface of the maize husk. The “water extraction and alcohol precipitation” method is the simplest but most resource- and time-consuming process. However, the “ultrasound-assisted extraction” and “microwave-assisted extraction” methods not only compensate for the shortcoming, but also increase the extraction rate. Herein, the preparation, structural analysis, and activities of maize polysaccharides were analyzed and discussed.