Chemical properties and antiinflammatory activity of a galactomannoglucan from Arecastrum romanzoffianum

Abstract

A galactomannoglucan (GMG) with an estimated weight-average molar mass of 1.5 × 10 5 was obtained from an aqueous extract of the mesocarp of fruits of Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cham.) Becc. by fractionation by Sephacryl S-300 HR and Sephadex G-25. Chemical and spectroscopic studies indicated that GMG has a chain of (1 → 4)-linked β- d-mannopyranosyl residues, a chain of (1 → 3)-linked β- d-galactopyranosyl residues, a chain of (1 → 4)-linked α- d-glucopyranosyl residues, repeating units of β- d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β- d-mannopyranosyl and β- d-mannopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α- d-glucopyranosyl and terminal residues of d-galactopyranosyl and d-glucopyranosyl which comprised galactose, mannose and glucose in the molar ratio of 10:37:53. The polysaccharide exhibited significant antiinflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced mouse paw oedema.