Plant Mucilages. XL. A Representative Mucilage, “Hibiscus-Mucilage SF, ” from the Flower Buds of Hibiscus syriacus

Abstract

A representative mucilage, named Hibiscus-mucilage SF, was isolated from the white flower buds of Hibiscus syriacus L. It was homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography. Its intrinsic viscosity value in aqueous solution was 26.0. It is mainly composed of partially acetylated acidic polysaccharide of molecular weight 1050000, and is composed of L-rhamnose : D-galactose : D-galacturonic acid : D-glucuronic acid in the molar ratio of 36 : 36 : 33 : 22. Methylation analysis of both the mucilage and the carboxyl-reduced derivative, and partial hydrolysis studies enabled elucidation of the structural features.