Structural analysis of an alkali-extractable polysaccharide from the seeds of Retama raetamssp. gussonei.

An alkali-extractable polysaccharide (1) was isolated from the seeds of Retama raetam ssp. gussonei. Its composition and linkage determination have been investigated using component analysis, methylation analysis, hydrolysis studies, and NMR spectroscopic analysis. This was shown to contain d-xylose, d-glucose, and 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 7:2:1 and consisted of a backbone of beta-(1-->4)-linked d-xylopyranosyl residues, having branches of alpha-d-glucopyranosyl residues that contain (1-->2)-linkages and 4-O-methyl-alpha-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid at O-2. This is the first report on the isolation of an alkali-extractable polysaccharide from this plant.