New infertility therapy effects of polysaccharides from Althaea officinalis leaf with emphasis on characterization, antioxidant and anti-pathogenic activity.

Characterization, antioxidant, anti-pathogenic and infertility therapy effects of polysaccharides from Althaea officinalis (marshmallow) leaf (AOLPS) were investigated. AOLPS was fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography, affording fractions of AOLPS-1, AOLPS-2, AOLPS-3 and AOLPS-4. The fractions were mainly composed of d-galactopyranose (α-(1 → 4)-glycosidic bond) with the average molecular weight of 1220 2240, 998 and 2670 Da, respectively which means it was a pectin-like polysaccharide.