Isolation and characterization of a xyloglucan from gobo (Arctium lappa L.)

A xyloglucan was isolated from the 24% KOH extract of gobo (edible burdock, Arctium lappa L.). A methylation analysis and enzymic degradation studies on the polysaccharide showed that gobo-xyloglucan was built up predominantly of repeating-oligosaccharide units of hepta-(Glc:Xyl = 4:3), nona- (Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc = 4:3:1:1) and deca- (Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc = 4:3:2:1) saccharides in an approximate molar ratio of 14:12:5, which are the typical structural units of dicot xyloglucans.