Abstract: Lignin was extracted from bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiforus) shoot shell by the acetosolv process. The chemical composition, particle size, specific surface area, porosity structure, water- and oil-holding capacity, swelling power, and cation-exchange, metal ion and cholate binding capacity of the lignin were investigated. Compared with cellulose and coarse dietary fiber from the same source, the lignin had smaller particle size and significantly greater oil-holding, cation-exchange and metal ion capacity. The water-holding and swelling capacities of the samples were positively correlated with their particle size. In vitro cholate-binding studies showed that the lignin bound more significantly sodium cholate and sodium taurocholate than the other fractions, and the binding rates were 82.46% and 60.94% relative to cholestyamin (a cholesterol-lowing, bile acid-binding drug), respectively. These results indicated that lignin from bamboo shoot shell had application potential for human health.

Key words: bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiforus) shoot shell, lignin, physicochemical properties, cholate bindig capacity