Abstract: In order to explore moisture-absorption retention capacity and skin irritation of polysaccharide from Dendrobium hu-oshanense,the properties of moisture-absorption (43%,81%) retention of polysaccharide from Dendrobium huoshanense are studied in vitro by controlling the relative humidities of the disiccator,and studied in vivo by skin moisture meter,then the skin irri-tation of polysaccharide from Dendrobium huoshanense studied by using normal and damaged skin of rabbits.The results discover that moisture-absorption(43%、81%)of polysaccharide from Dendrobium huoshanense increase with the increase of environmental humidity,the sequence of the moisture absorption rate with the relative humidity of 43% and 81% is as follows:Glycerol > Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide > chitosan > sodium alginate;the sequence of in vitro moisture content is as below:chitosan >Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide > sodium alginate > glycerol.After smearing Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide for 6 h,8 h and 12 h,the moisture retention rate of human skin is significantly higher than that of glycerol,the moisture retention rate of human skin for 12 h is significantly higher than that of sodium alginate and is not significantly different from that of chitosan;the stimulus value of normal skin and damaged skin of rabbits is less than 0.5,indicating that Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide has a certain moisture absorption and moisturizing performance but no skin irritation,and they boast the potential of being developed into natural moisturizer.

Key words: Dendrobium huoshanense, polysaccharose, moisture-absorption capacity, moisture-retention capacity, skin irritation