Optimization of extraction of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides and its antioxidant and antitumour activities in vitro

Optimization of extraction of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides was investigated using response surface methodology in this paper. T. fuciformis polysaccharides were extracted using boiling water at different extraction temperatures (80–100 °C), times (3.5–4.5 h) and ratios of solvent to raw material (4–6). The effect of extraction conditions on the yield of T. fuciformis polysaccharides were studied using a three-level three-factor Box–Behnken design. The results showed that the highest yield (3.08%) of T. fuciformis polysaccharides was reached at extraction temperature 100 °C, extraction time 4.5 h and ratio of solvent to raw material 5 (v/v). In addition, T. fuciformis polysaccharides could scavenge superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals. At last, it could still be found that antitumour activities of T. fuciformis polysaccharides increased from 73.4% to 92.1% with increasing concentration of polysaccharides. Pharmacology experiment indicated that T. fuciformis polysaccharides was useful to the therapy of free radical injury and cancer diseases.