An application of the alkaline extraction – glucoamylase hydrolysis method to analyze starch and sugar contents of bamboo

The alkaline extraction – glucoamylase hydrolysis (AG) method, which extracts sugars and starch by using sodium hydroxide and hydrolyzes starch by using glucoamylase and α-amylase, was compared with the established ethanol extraction – perchloric acid hydrolysis (EPA) method to analyze the sugar and starch contents of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel). The results suggested that the two methods had comparable abilities to extract free sugars from moso bamboo. However, the AG method analyzed starch in moso bamboo more accurately than the EPA method under the proper conditions. When we take into account the better time performance of the AG method versus the EPA method, we can conclude that the AG method is superior to EPA for analyzing the sugar and starch contents of moso bamboo.