Structural aspects of the exudate from the fruit of Chorisia speciosa St. Hil

Mature fruit of Chorisia speciosa yield an exudate (E-I) following mechanic al injury. The polysaccharide contains rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose , glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid in molar ratios of 20:11:1:3:2:40: 23. The main chain of the structure is composed by P-galactopyranosyl units linked (1 --> 3) and (1 --> 6) as indicated by NMR spectra and methylation data. Arabinosef and rhamnose are terminal residues. In order to compare E -I with the polysaccharides from the fruit mesocarp, the latter was submitt ed to different extractions. The water fraction contains rhamnose, arabinos e, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose and uronic acid in molar ratios of 1 8:4:1:2:3:44:28. It was treated with CTAB yielding a precipitate which was decomplexed with NaCl, giving four fractions. The fraction obtained using 0 .15 M NaCl had a quantitative composition similar that of E-I. (C) 1999 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.