HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT ACIDIC POLYSACCHARIDES FROM MALVA-SYLVESTRIS AND ALCEA-ROSEA

Leaves and flowers of Malva sylvestris and Alcea rosea (Malvaceae) wer e compared by determination of the swelling index as well as the conte nt and viscosity of their mucilages. The investigations showed mucilag e from flowers of Alcea to be superior to mucilages from leaves or flo wers from Malva. High molecular weight acidic polysaccharides (HMWAPs) were isolated from the mucilages of leaves and flowers of both specie s. The molecular weight of all HMWAPs was in a range of 1.3 to 1.6 x 1 0(6) D. HMWAP-content in mucilage from flowers of Alcea was highest co mpared to content in mucilages from leaves or flowers from Malva. HMWA Ps were found to be composed mainly of glucuronic acid, galacturonic a cid, rhamnose and galactose. Methylation analysis of the carboxyl-redu ced and deuterium labeled sugar derivatives of HMWAPs from flowers of Malva sylvestris ssp. mauritiana and Alcea rosea enabled elucidation o f the principal structural features of both polysaccharides.