Pectic polysaccharide from immature onion stick (Allium cepa): structural and immunological investigation

The structure of a water-soluble pectic polysaccharide (PS) isolated from immature onion stick (Allium cepa) was investigated using acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation study, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, and HMBC). The results of the above experiments indicated that the PS contained d-galactose, 6-O-Me-D-galactose, 3-O-acetyl-D-methyl galacturonate and D-methyl galacturonate in a molar ratio of nearly 1:1:1:1 and possesses a backbone of [→4)-α-D-GalpA6Me-(1→4)-α-D-GalpA6Me-(1→] in which one methyl galacturonate was substituted at O-3 position by an acetyl group and the neighboring methyl galacturonate being substituted at O-2 with a side chain, α-D-Galp-(1→4)-6-O-Me-β-D-Galp-(1→. The probable structure of repeating unit of the pectic polysaccharide was established as: [formula in text] The pectic polysaccharide showed in vitro splenocyte, thymocyte as well as macrophage activations.