Structural characterization and DPPH· radical scavenging activity of a polysaccharide from Guara fruits.

The crude polysaccharides were extracted from fruits of Psidium guajava Linn. by hot water. After removal of proteins, isolation and purification by DEAE-52 Cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, a polysaccharide (GP70-2) was obtained and structurally characterized. GP70-2 has a relative molecular weight of 74 kDa and was composed of D-galactose and L-arabinose in the ratio of 1:1, with a specific optical rotation of [a]D(25) = +101°. Structural characterization of this novel polysaccharide was carried out using infrared spectroscopy, methylation analyses, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, (1)H-(1)H-COSY, HMQC, and HMBC). Based on the above data, the following structure was assigned to the repeated core unit of GP70-2: [Formula: see text]. This polysaccharide showed a concentration dependent DPPH· radical scavenging activity.