1997 Volume 61 Issue 9 Pages 1491-1494
The molecular characteristics of polysaccharide obtained by extracting with water from jelly fig (Ficus awkeotsang Makino) seeds were elucidated by measuring the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and radius of gyration (RG), indicating the molecular expanse, by the light-scattering method. The Mw and RG values of the water-soluble jelly fig polysaccharide were 84-130×104 and 240-450 mm, respectively, these values being larger than those of commercial LM pectin and HM pectin. In addition, the Mw and RG values of the water-soluble jelly fig polysaccharide initially increased after being extracted, indicating the highest values 5 hours after the extraction, and thereafter decreased. These changes in the time-course of the molecule reflected well the changes with time in the mechanical characteristics and network structure of the water-soluble jelly fig polysaccharide gel. Exponent α in the expression RG ≤prop Mwα was found to be 0.37. From these results, the conformation of the water-soluble jelly fig polysaccharide molecule after association by the contained inorganic elements proved to be of globular form rather than a random coil shape as a result of contraction of the molecule.
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