Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch

<i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Thunb. (PM) is a starch-rich medicinal herb, but research on the changes in the structure and physical properties of the starch upon processing remains elusive. Herein, the structures and physicochemical properties, particularly the impact on intestinal flora...

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Main Authors: Guiya Yang, Ying Wang, Yuying Hu, Yue Liu, Quan Li, Shuangcheng Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1578
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author Guiya Yang
Ying Wang
Yuying Hu
Yue Liu
Quan Li
Shuangcheng Ma
author_facet Guiya Yang
Ying Wang
Yuying Hu
Yue Liu
Quan Li
Shuangcheng Ma
author_sort Guiya Yang
collection DOAJ
description <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Thunb. (PM) is a starch-rich medicinal herb, but research on the changes in the structure and physical properties of the starch upon processing remains elusive. Herein, the structures and physicochemical properties, particularly the impact on intestinal flora of raw PM starch and processed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> (PMP) starch, were systematically characterized and compared. XRD and FT-IR results showed that the crystalline structure of PMP starch was disrupted, with the increase in its short-range ordering. Morphological analysis revealed that the size of PMP starch granules increased with the appearance of aggregation. Significant differences in swelling power and solubility were observed, wherein PM starch has a higher swelling power, while its solubility is lower than that of PMP starch. The PM starch also has higher thermal stability. Interestingly, the resistant starch (RS) content in PMP starch was higher, as shown by the in vitro digestibility tests, which is associated with enhanced bioactivity. Moreover, gut microbiota analysis in mice indicated that PMP starch promoted gut health by regulating specific bacterial families. Our current study has offered full insights into the changes of PM starch upon processing, laying a solid foundation for further developing PM starch-derived functional food products.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2304-8158
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
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series Foods
spelling doaj-art-ac091232e73f44f2a94453b3b462a4ef2025-08-20T03:52:58ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01149157810.3390/foods14091578Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> StarchGuiya Yang0Ying Wang1Yuying Hu2Yue Liu3Quan Li4Shuangcheng Ma5School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Drug Regulatory Science, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Drug Regulatory Science, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, ChinaSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, ChinaSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China<i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Thunb. (PM) is a starch-rich medicinal herb, but research on the changes in the structure and physical properties of the starch upon processing remains elusive. Herein, the structures and physicochemical properties, particularly the impact on intestinal flora of raw PM starch and processed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> (PMP) starch, were systematically characterized and compared. XRD and FT-IR results showed that the crystalline structure of PMP starch was disrupted, with the increase in its short-range ordering. Morphological analysis revealed that the size of PMP starch granules increased with the appearance of aggregation. Significant differences in swelling power and solubility were observed, wherein PM starch has a higher swelling power, while its solubility is lower than that of PMP starch. The PM starch also has higher thermal stability. Interestingly, the resistant starch (RS) content in PMP starch was higher, as shown by the in vitro digestibility tests, which is associated with enhanced bioactivity. Moreover, gut microbiota analysis in mice indicated that PMP starch promoted gut health by regulating specific bacterial families. Our current study has offered full insights into the changes of PM starch upon processing, laying a solid foundation for further developing PM starch-derived functional food products.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1578<i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Thunbstarchstructurephysicochemical propertiesintestinal flora
spellingShingle Guiya Yang
Ying Wang
Yuying Hu
Yue Liu
Quan Li
Shuangcheng Ma
Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch
Foods
<i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Thunb
starch
structure
physicochemical properties
intestinal flora
title Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch
title_full Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch
title_fullStr Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch
title_short Comparison of the Structure, Physicochemical Properties, and Impact on Intestinal Flora of Processed and Unprocessed <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Starch
title_sort comparison of the structure physicochemical properties and impact on intestinal flora of processed and unprocessed i polygonum multiflorum i starch
topic <i>Polygonum multiflorum</i> Thunb
starch
structure
physicochemical properties
intestinal flora
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1578
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