Galactomannan from the seeds of Ural licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.)

Galactomannans from the seeds of Ural licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) obtained by hot water extraction of freshly ripened (GGu-1) and overwintered (GGu-2) seeds were studied. GGu-1 and GGu-2 (yield, 1.98 and 1.99% of the seed weight) had molecular weights of 1379 and 877 kDa, respectively; their solutions were characterized by high viscosity ([η 1193.1 and 765.8 mg/g, respectively) and optical activity ([α_D, +64.8 and +65.6 deg, respectively). Their galactose-to-mannose ratio was 1: 1.52 and 1: 1.50, respectively. According to IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data and methylation analysis, the polymeric chains of GGu-1 and GGu-2 are comprised of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose residues substituted at C-6 with single α-D-galactopyranose residues. The content of mannobiose units Man-Man, (Gal)Man-Man/Man-Man(Gal), and (Gal)Man-Man(Gal) differentially substituted with galactose in macromolecules GGu-1 and GGu-2 was 25.2, 18.4 and 55.9% for GGu-1 and 26.5, 32.5, and 41.0% for GGu-2.