Isolation and Characterization of Fructans from Polygonatum odoratum var.japonicum Rhizomes

Abstract

Four new fructans have benn isolated from the rhizomes of Polygonatum odoratum DRUCE var.japonicum HARA. They, named Polygonatum-fructans O-A, O-B, O-C, and O-D, have been shown to be composed of 29 units of fructose and 1 unit of glucose, composed of 26 units of fructose and 1 unit of glucose, composed of 18 units of fructose and 1 unit of glucose, and composed of 10 units of fructose and 1 unit of glucose. Periodate oxidation and methylation studies showed that each fructan possesses non-reducing linear structure made up of 2→1 linked β-D-fructofuranose residues having one D-glucopyranose residue linked as in neo-kestose in the middle of the molecule.