X-ray diffraction studies on some seed galactomannans from India

Structure elucidation and properties of a non-ionic galactomannan derived from the Cassia pleurocarpa seeds

A non-ionic water soluble galactomannan made up of d-galactose and d-mannose was isolated from the seed endosperm of Cassia pleurocarpa. Acid catalyzed fragmentation, periodate oxidation, methylation and selective enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that the repeating unit of the heteropolysaccharide had a backbone of beta(1-->4) linked d-mannopyranosyl units to which D-galactopyranosyl units are linked as side chains through alpha(1-->6) linkages. The properties such as viscosity, water/saline retention, gelling behavior, and shelf life of the galactomannan indicated that the material may be exploited in biomedical applications for example drug delivery and tissue engineering fields.

Seed mucilage from Ipomoea dasysperma

A non-ionic water-soluble galactomannan, having galactose and mannose in 1:6 molar ratio, was isolated from endosperm of the seeds of Ipomoea dasysperma. The seed mucilage was found to have a structure having a linear chain of beta (1-->4) linked mannopyranosyl units with D-galactose side chains attached through alpha (1-->6) linkage to the main chain. I. dasysperma seed gum possesses non-ionic characteristics of commercial seed gums and has potential to be used in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Microwave-promoted hydrolysis of plant seed gums on alumina support

Using a catalytic amount of potassium persulfate (1.48 x 10(-4)M), eight different seed gums were fully hydrolyzed on alumina support under microwave irradiation. The hydrolysis time varied between 1.33 and 2.33 min depending upon the seed gum structure. The used solid support could be easily separated from the hydrolyzates and recycled. However, under microwave field in an aqueous medium, the same amount of persulfate was unable to hydrolyze the seed gums. Solid-supported microwave hydrolysis has been compared with the microwave-enhanced aqueous hydrolysis (using K2S2O8 or 0.1N H2SO4) and also with the conventional hydrolysis procedures.

Cassia grandis Linn. f. seed galactomannan: structural and crystallographical studies

Cassia grandis is a small or medium sized tree, found in abundance throughout India. The seeds contain about 50% endosperm gum and possess the characteristics of becoming a potential source of seed gum. The purified polysaccharide has been characterized as a pure galactomannan having a mannose-galactose ratio of 3.15; molecular weight (Mw) 80,200; polydispersity (Mw/Mn), 1.35 and intrinsic viscosity [eta], 848 mL/g. Methylation, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and 13C NMR studies confirm that the polysaccharide has the basic structure of legume galactomannans consisting of a beta-(1-->4)-linked main mannan backbone to which galactose units are attached at O-6. The orthorhombic lattice constants of the hydrated gum are as follows: a=9.00, b=24.81, c=10.30 A. The crystallographic data establish that the probable space group symmetry of the unit cell is P2(1)2(1)2. The results are in contradiction to earlier reports (Indian J. Chem. 16B (1978) 966; J. Indian Chem. Soc. 55 (1978) 1216) in which a non-galactomannan polysaccharide structure has been assigned having a main chain of (1-->4)-linked galactose and mannose units in the molar ratio 6:3, where 50% of the galactose units branched with two galactose and one mannose through 1-->3 linkage.

A non-ionic water-soluble seed gum from Ipomoea campanulata

A non-ionic water-soluble galactomannan, having galactose and mannose in 2:3 molar ratio was isolated from endosperm of the seeds of Ipomoea campanulata. The seed gum was found to have linear chain of beta (1-->4) linked mannopyranosyl units with D-galactose side chains attached through alpha (1-->6) linkage to the main chain. This structure is similar to many commercial gums like Guar, Carob and Locust bean gum. Various physical properties of the gum were studied in order to explore the possibility of commercial exploitation of the seed gum.

Cassia spectabilis DC seed galactomannan: structural, crystallographical and rheological studies

The seeds of Cassia spectabilis DC (family: Leguminoseae), an Indian fast growing spreading tree, contain about 40% of endosperm and possess the characteristics of becoming a potential source of commercial gum. The purified galactomannan shows Mw 1.1 x 10(6), intrinsic viscosity [eta] 615ml/g with k' = 1.706 x 10(-1), and a mannose to galactose ration of 2.65. The hydrolysis of the fully methylated polysaccharide reveals clearly the expected structure of legume galactomannans. The orthorhombic lattice constants of the hydrated gums are as follows: a = 9.12 A, b = 25.63 A and c = 10.28 A. The results of X-ray fiber studies show that the b dimension of the unit cell is very sensitive to relative humidity (RH), galactose substitution and orientation of the films. The probable space group symmetry of the unit cell is P2(1)2(1)2. Rheological studies of the galactomannan have shown that the transition from semi-dilute to dilute regime occurs at a critical concentration Cc* = 2.75. The slope of the log-log plot of specific viscosity versus C at zero shear rate is 5.87 in the more concentrated regime. The viscoelastic and critical shear rate behavior indicate the characteristics of a coil polymer. The large dependence of the viscosity on the coil overlap parameter is probably due to polymer-polymer interactions and peculiarity of the galactose distribution along the chain. Above 20 g/L concentration, the rheological behavior of the gum is like the one of a weak-gel.