Monosaccharide composition and bioactivity of tea flower polysaccharides obtained by ethanol fractional precipitation and stepwise precipitation

Abstract

Yields of tea flower polysaccharides (TFPS) were investigated by ethanol fractional precipitation and stepwise precipitation and the monosaccharide composition of TFPS was investigated by ion chromatography(IC). Furthermore, a preliminary study on bioactivities of TFPS was discussed. The result indicated that the molecular weight distribution of TFPS was wide. Results of ethanol fractional precipitation and stepwise precipitation suggested that most of polysaccharides were precipitated when the final concentration of ethanol was adjusted to 30% (v/v). TFPS contained acid polysaccharides and it was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, GalA, and GluA with a molar ratio of 4.95:11.57:11.89:4.26:1.31:1.98:8.41:1.0. Furthermore, TFPS exhibited strong inhibitory effect on a-glucosidase and proliferation effect on lymphocytes. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.