Optimization and characterization of purified polysaccharide from Musa sapientum L. as a pharmaceutical excipient

Polysaccharides from Musa sapientum (MSP) were isolated and purified by gel filtration chromatography. Elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction crystallography (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and NMR techniques were used to characterize the polysaccharide. Elemental analysis of the polysaccharide indicated that the contents of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen to be 27.31, 5.07 and 0.62 (w/w%) respectively. SEM analysis suggested that the polysaccharide had irregular particle size, mostly seen as aggregates, and fibrous in nature. The samples had peaks at approximately 25°, 32°, 40° and 43° 2θ degrees in the XRD pattern, which indicated both crystalline and amorphous structure. The major functional groups identified from FT-IR spectrum includes 1631.38 cm⁻¹ (-COO-), 1377 cm⁻¹ (-COO-) and 3193.93 cm⁻¹ (-OH). Analytical data on MSP indicated that the major neutral sugars were α-D-glucose, β-D-glucose, rhamnose and D-glucuronic acid. The experimental work provides enough evidence to exploit this neutral biopolymer in food and pharmaceutical industry.