Cellulase-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Polygonatum odoratum (CPP) was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and the extracted CPP's preliminary chemical characteristics, as well as antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities were also investigated. The optimal extraction parameters comprised an extraction temperature of 58.21 °C, an extraction time of 3.18 h, pH value of 5.8, and cellulase amount of 6.0%. Under these conditions, the relative yield was 15.76%, higher than the yield achieved with hot water extracted polysaccharide (HPP). Chemical composition analysis demonstrated that CPP and HPP consisted of mannose, glucosamine, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molecular ratio of 7.80:1.08:1.63:65.93:3.58:1.00 and 11.22:0.23:0.23:17.59:2.73:9.10, respectively. The molecular weight distribution of CPP was lower and more homogeneous compared with HPP. CPP exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than HPP, including DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Both CPP and HPP could significantly promote the proliferation and neutral red phagocytosis of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in vitro. These results indicate that the cellulase-assisted extraction method influenced the physicochemical characteristics, and consequently, the functional activities of polysaccharides, suggesting the cellulose-assisted method may be a viable option for extraction polysaccharides from P. odoratum.
