Abstract: An enzymatic method for the preparation of cello-oligosaccharides from Radix Puerariae fiber was developed, and HPLC was employed to determine the sugar composition of cello-oligosaccharide extracts. The effects of enzyme type and dose as well as hydrolysis time on cello-oligosaccharide composition and contents were explored. The results showed that β-glucanase was more suitable for the preparation of cello-oligosaccharides than cellulase. Hydrolysates consisting of mainly glucose, cellobiose and cellotriose were obtained using β-glucanase. The hydrolysate obtained after 2 h of hydrolysis with 3 U/g β-glucanase contained a high proportion of cellobiose and cellotriose and the yield of cello-oligosaccharides was 11.8 g/100 g under these conditions.

Key words: Radix Puerariae fiber, cello-oligosaccharides, β-glucanase