Characterization of a fucoarabinogalactan, the main polysaccharide from the gum exudate of Croton urucurana.

A fucoarabinogalactan (CU-1), the main component of the gum exudate of the medicinal plant Croton urucurana, has been isolated by precipitation and subsequent dialysis and finally purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The estimated average molecular weight of CU-1 by gel permeation chromatography was approximately 2.48 x 10(6) Da.