Characterization of a novel purified polysaccharide from the flesh of Cipangopaludina chinensis.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the characterization of a novel polysaccharide from the flesh of Cipangopaludina chinensis, named CCPSn. The results found CCPSn was a white powder, readily soluble in hot water and slightly soluble in water. CCPSn was a homopolysaccharide composed of D-glucose (D-Glc) with molecular weight of 91.1 kDa. Based on analysis of UV-visible, FT-IR, periodic acid oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation, GM-MS and NMR, the structure of CCPSn was elucidated as follows: the backbone was composed of (1 → 3) linked α-D-Glc. The branches, consisting of a single (1 → 3) linked α-D-Glc units and terminal α-D-Glc-4-O-SO3(-), were attached to the main chain at C-4 positions. The degree of branching was calculated to be about 16.73%. The C-1 of terminal α-D-Glc-4-O-SO3(-) was linked to O-3 of (1 → 3) linked α-D-Glc in the branches. In addition, the results indicated CCPSn was a sulfated polysaccharide with the sulfate radical content of 9.12%.