Abstract: Response surface methodology was used to optimize technological parameters for ultrasonic- assisted extraction and ethanol precipitation of polysaccharides from Actinidia arguta Sieb. et Zucc.. Three factors including ultrasonic power, ultrasonic time and solvent/material ratio were selected to maximize the yield of polysaccharides. Ethanol concentration, ethanol volume and precipitation time were selected to maximize the yield of polysaccharides precipitated by ethanol. The optimal ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were obtained as follows: ultrasonic power 260 W, ultrasonic treatment time 8 min, and solvent/material ratio 6:1 (mL/g), resulting in a polysaccharide yield of 1.48% (m/m). The optimal conditions for precipitating polysaccharides from the crude polysaccharide solution obtained were achieved after 4 h precipitation with 7-fold volume of 90% ethanol, and a polysaccharide yield of 1.55% (m/m) was obtained under these conditions.

Key words: Actinidia arguta Sieb. et Zucc., polysaccharides, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, ethanol precipitation, response surface methodology