Structural characterization of a glucan isolated from Hedyotis diffusa Willd.

Objective: To isolate a homogeneous polysaccharide RP from RDP (a crude polysaccharide from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), and study its preliminary com-position and structure.

Methods: RP was obtained with water extraction, alcohol sedimentation, CTAB deprotein, cellulose column and SephadexG-100 column. The purities of RP were identified by SephadexG-200. PC analysis on its acidic hydrolysates was used to determine the sugar components. Sephadex chromatography was used to mensurate its molecular weight. IR was used to analysis RP.

Results: RP was homogeneous. IR indicated that RP had P configurations. The compositon was identified by paper chromatography as glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose.

Conclusion: The research could provide a theoretical foundation for further development and utilization.