Recently, researchers from the Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IBFC-CAAS) have isolated high-bioactivity polysaccharides from jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) leaves (JLPs) by using continuous extraction method. This research provides theoretical and practical support for the application of JLPs in food additives and biomaterials of different fields.

Plant-based polysaccharides have been widely applied in the food and biopharmaceutical industries due to their excellent functional properties and plentiful health benefits. Jute leaves have long been consumed as an edible vegetable in Asia and Africa, which are underexplored sources of bioactive polysaccharides.

In the research, sequential solvent extraction (water, oxalate, acid, alkali) was employed to isolate four novel polysaccharide fractions (WJP, OJP, HJP, AJP) from jute leaves. All polysaccharide fractions were RG-I dominant with solvent-dependent structural characteristics. Functionally, they surpassed commercial citrus pectin in emulsification, thickening, and hydration. Outperforming antioxidant activities of AJP and WJP were observed, attributing to their protein-phenolic content and structural features. Overall, these polysaccharides are expected to be developed into novel emulsifiers, thickeners and antioxidants.

This research was supported by the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, Guiding Funds of Central Government for Supporting the Development of Local Science and Technology, Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of CAAS.

The study titled “Physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties of four polysaccharides sequentially extracted from jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) leaves” has been published online in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules and can be accessed through the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147223.

Fig. Preparation of high-bioactivity polysaccharides from jute leaves

by continuous extraction method

 By Yang Xiushi

                               ( yangxiushi@caas.cn)