Antioxidant and Moisture-preserving Activities of Polysaccharides Obtained from Hericium erinaceus

[Objectives] The paper was to determine the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of three polysaccharide fractions(HP1, HP2 and HP3) obtained by ethanol precipitation from cold water, hot water and hot aqueous NaOH extracts of the fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus. [Methods] The chemical components, antioxidant and moisture-preserving activities of the three polysaccharides were determined. [Results] All the three polysaccharide extracts showed similar physicochemical characteristics and FT-IR spectra. HP1, which had the highest sugar content and lowest molecular weight, exhibited the best antioxidant activities against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. HP3 exhibited the greatest ability to absorb and retain moisture. [Conclusions] These data demonstrate the potential utility of polysaccharides extracted form H. erinaceus in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.