title: Emulsification properties of polysaccharides from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.
abstract: This study investigated the emulsification properties of polysaccharides from Dioscorea opposita Thunb. Graded alcohol precipitation was used to extract Dioscorea opposita polysaccharides fractions (4 samples) in different ranges of molecular weight. Sample 3 contained more glucose and protein (80.13% and 0.34%, respectively), and molecular weight was approximately 34,790Da, distributing narrowly. The droplet sizes and stabilities of emulsions made of gum arabic (GA) and polysaccharide samples at different concentrations and ratios were measured, specifically the emulsions of GA and medium-chain-triglycerides (MCT); polysaccharides and MCT; and polysaccharides, GA and MCT (1:1:1). The results indicated that sample 2 and 3 had emulsifying properties, and the emulsions made with sample 2, GA and MCT (1:1:1) presented the best emulsification properties. Therefore, polysaccharides of Dioscorea opposita could be utilised as a natural emulsifier that can be improved synergistically with other emulsifiers, such as gum arabic.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immune-Engineering of Henan Province, Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Pharmaceutical College, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
authors.forename: Fanyi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immune-Engineering of Henan Province, Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Pharmaceutical College, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immune-Engineering of Henan Province, Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Pharmaceutical College, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
authors.forename: Yurong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immune-Engineering of Henan Province, Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Pharmaceutical College, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
authors.forename: Yanna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immune-Engineering of Henan Province, Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Pharmaceutical College, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immune-Engineering of Henan Province, Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Pharmaceutical College, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China. Electronic address: liuxiuhua@henu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiuhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Science, University of Reading, Whitenights, Reading RG6 6AP, UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Ruralia Institute, University of Helsinki, Lönnrotinkatu 7, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tikkanen-Kaukanen
mesh_terms: D027742:Dioscorea / Q000737:chemistry*; D045703:Emulsifying Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: Chinese yam; Dioscorea opposita Thunb.; Emulsification properties; Polysaccharides