PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW FRUCTAN SERIES FROM SPECIES OF ASTERACEAE

A new fructan series, in addition to inulin, was identified in tissue extracts of Cichorium intybus L., Helianthus tuberosus L. and Taraxacu m officinale Weber. The second fructan series was separated from the i nulin series up to degree of polymerization (DP) 18 by ion chromatogra phy. The DP 4 of this new fructan series was purified and structurally analysed. Hydrolysis and methylation analysis of the DP 4 oligomer sh ows that this is a fructan series that contains only beta-2,1-linked f ructose molecules. We conclude that this new fructan series in species of Asteraceae comprises the inulo-n-ose series and probably consists of products of inulin hydrolysis that are formed during inulin mobiliz ation.