Rheological properties and gel characteristics of polysaccharides from fruit-bodies of Sparassis crispa

Rheological properties and gel characteristics of Sparassis crispa polysaccharides (SCPs) were investigated under various concentrations, temperature, pH, salt concentrations, and sucrose concentrations. SCP solutions behaved as shear thinning pseudoplastic fluids; apparent viscosity increased with concentrations but decreased with extreme conditions and was highest for 1% SCPs at 80 ℃ under neutral conditions; 5% SCPs solutions formed a hysteresis loop and exhibited thixotropic properties. By oscillatory measurements, SCPs were viscoelastic materials. 0.5% and 1% SCPs solutions exhibited viscous behavior at low frequency and enhanced elastic property with the oscillation frequency increased. With the concentration increased to 3% and 5%, the elastic property was predominant in solutions and exhibited gel-like behavior. SCPs gel textural properties and water holding capacity increased with concentration (to 20%) and decreased with salinity, extreme sucrose, and pH. 10% SCPs gels were optimized at 10% sucrose in neutral conditions. Thus, these results implied SCPs had the potential utilization as a new hydrocolloid source in food industries.