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. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.