Abstract: Tea polysaccharides were extracted by microwave technique in order to preserve their bioactivity and to improve their extracting rate. The optimum parameters of the technology were obtained through orthogonal test. Then this technique was used for the extraction of the tea polysaccharides whose contents were determined with anthrone-sulfuric acid method. The results showed that the optimum technical parameters were: the ratio of S/L of 1:15 and the extracting time of 75s under the microwave intensity of 100%. In contrast to other extraction methods, it was confirmed that the extraction rate of the microwave technique was higher and the extraction time was shorter. The microwave technique could be a better method for extracting the tea polysaccharides. Meanwhile, it was found that the ability inhibiting the α-amylase activity of the tea polysaccharides extracted by microwave technique has not been changed.

Key words:  microwave technique, tea polysaccharides, extraction