This study focuses on the extraction of Podophyllum emodi polysaccharides (PEP) using an ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid method, optimizing the extraction process through single-factor and response surface methodologies. The crude polysaccharides were purified using DEAE-650M cellulose column chromatography and Sephadex G-750 gel , obtioning two polysaccharide fractions (PEP-I and PEP-II). The physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of the purified polysaccharides were characterized using modern chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, alongside evaluations of their antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. The optimization results revealed that the optimal extraction conditions for PEP were an liquid to material ratio of 40:1 mL/g, extraction temperature of 53 °C, and extraction time of 91 min, with 1.0% concentration of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl), achieving an extraction yield of 39.79±0.17%. PEP-I is identified as a neutral pyranose polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 27.32 kDa, exhibiting α and β anomeric configurations and a triple helix conformation. It is primarily composed of rhamnose (61.85%), mannose (19.36%), and arabinose (5.85%), showing an uneven morphology with some regions exhibiting network-like structures. On the other hand, PEP-II is an acidic pyranose polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 33.48 kDa, mainly consisting of rhamnose (52.89%), xylose (12.63%), and glucose (12.99%), along with traces of proteins and uronic acids, displaying a smooth plate-like film with minor fragmentation. Furthermore, both PEP-I and PEP-II exhibited a coexistence of crystalline and amorphous structures along with good thermal stability. Antioxidant activity tests demonstrated that the maximum half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of PEP-I and PEP-II against DPPH, ABTS+, and hydroxyl radicals were 1.832 mg/mL and 0.734 mg/mL, 1.634 mg/mL and 0.862 mg/mL, and 1.941 mg/mL and 0.926 mg/mL, respectively. The IC50 values for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition were recorded as 3.021 mg/mL and 2.432 mg/mL, 3.242 mg/mL and 2.398 mg/mL, respectively. These findings indicate that Podophyllum emodi polysaccharides possess significant antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities.