Artificial simulated saliva, gastric and intestinal digestion of polysaccharide from the seeds of Plantago asiatica L.

► Saliva, gastric and intestinal digestion of polysaccharide was studied in vitro. ► Salivary amylase had no effect on the polysaccharide. ► Polysaccharide molecular weight decrease was found in gastrointestinal digestion. ► Reducing ends increased but no monosaccharide released during the digestion. ► Polysaccharide molecular weight decrease may due to breakdown of glycosidic bonds.