Abstract:The polysaccharide of Dendrobium officinale (DOP) was extracted from fresh Dendrobium officinale by ultrasonic assisted method and used as active ingredient to prepare Dendrobium officinale whitening cream. Taking the polysaccharide of Dendrobium officinale (DOP) yield as evaluation index, the extraction technology of DOP was optimized by single factor and orthogonal test. The antioxidant activity of DOP was investigated by hydroxyl radical,1, 1-diphenylpicrylphenylhydrazine (DPPH) radical, 2,2" -diazo-di3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cationic radical scavenging test and iron ion reduction (FRAP) method. The moisturizing ability of DOP was detected by in vitro physical analysis. The effects of DOP on the properties of Dendrobium officinale whitening cream were investigated based on the test of antioxidant and moisturizing ability and tyrosinase activity inhibition. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions of DOP were as follows: ultrasonic time 60 min, solid-liquid ratio (g∶mL) 1:30, ultrasonic times 3, ultrasonic temperature 80 ℃, and the yield of DOP was 34.73%±0.16%. Compared with 1.92 g/L L-ascorbic acid solution, the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate of 1.92 g/L DOP solution was 57.33%±0.03%, which was lower than 98.77%±0.05% of L-ascorbic acid solution. The cationic radical scavenging rate of ABTS was 22.16%±1.24%, much lower than that of L-ascorbic acid (98.01%±0.28%). The scavenging rate of DPPH free radical was 85.45%±0.06%, which was close to 96.24%±0.04% of L-ascorbic acid. FRAP value was 2631.31 μmol/L±67.34 μmol/L, which was close to 2782.83 μmol/L±23.78 μmol/L of L-ascorbic acid. Under the conditions of 85% and 43% relative humidity for 24 h, the DOP moisture retention rates were 96.1%±0.17% and 91.6%±0.31%, respectively. The hydroxyl free radical scavenging rate and DPPH free radical scavenging rate of DPPH cream with DOP 1.5% and niacinamide 2.6% were 25.40%±0.13%, 85.70%±0.30%, FRAP 3735.14 μmol/L±148.38 μmol/L, and the 24 h moisture rate was 90.33%±1.34% under 43% relative humidity. The inhibition rate of tyrosinase was 42.01%±2.73%.