Microwave‐Assisted Extraction,Chemical Structures,and Chain Conformation of Polysaccharides from a Novel Cordyceps Sinensis Fungus UM01

Cordyceps sinensis is a well‐known tonic food with broad medicinal properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the optimization of microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) and characterize chemical structures and chain conformation of polysaccharides from a novel C. sinensis fungus UM01. Ion‐exchange and gel filtration chromatography were used to purify the polysaccharides. The chemical structure of purified polysaccharide was determined through gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Moreover, high performance size exclusion chromatography combined with refractive index detector and multiangle laser light scattering were conducted to analyze the molecular weight (M_w) and chain conformation of purified polysaccharide. Based on the orthogonal design L₉, optimal MAE conditions could be obtained through 1300 W of microwave power, with a 5‐min irradiation time at a solid to water ratio of 1:60, generating the highest extraction yield of 6.20%. Subsequently, the polysaccharide UM01‐S1 was purified. The UM01‐S1 is a glucan‐type polysaccharide with a (1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucosyl backbone and branching points located at O‐3 of Glcp with a terminal‐d ‐Glcp. The M_w, radius of gyration (R_g) and hydrodynamic radius (R_h) of UM01‐S1 were determined as 5.442 × 10⁶ Da, 21.8 and 20.2 nm, respectively. Using the polymer solution theory, the exponent (ν) value of the power law function was calculated as 0.38, and the shape factor (ρ = R_g/R_h) was 1.079, indicating that UM01‐S1 has a sphere‐like conformation with a branched structure in an aqueous solution. These results provide fundamental information for the future application of polysaccharides from cultured C. sinensis in health and functional food area.