An acidic heteropolysaccharide from Mesona chinensis: Rheological properties, gelling behavior and texture characteristics.

Polysaccharide from Mesona chinensis is becoming increasingly attractive focus because of its gelling property and biological activities. In this study, the rheological properties of an acidic heteropolysaccharide from Mesona chinensis (MCP) were investigated in dilute and semidilute solutions. Dynamic rheology was systematically conducted to investigate the effects of concentration, temperature, pH values, salts and freeze-thaw variations on the rheological properties of MCP. Results showed that the rheological properties of MCP exhibited pseudoplastic characteristic and "gel-like" behavior by the flow behavior detection. A closed hysteresis loop was formed when the MCP concentration reached 4%, and the Gel was generated when the MCP concentration reached 5%. The storage modulu (G') and loss modulu (G″) of MCP solution were increased with increasing oscillation frequency at concentration of 4% and 5%. The phase angel (tanδ) was less than 1, indicating MCP was a weak gel in linear viscoelastic region. The gel exhibited favourable textural properties when MCP at concentration 5%. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) verified MCP had a unique lotus leaf-like shape with some small irregular round-like rods surface morphology.