Effects of isoniazid on the composition of mycobacteria, with particular reference to soluble carbohydrates and related substances

1. When growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis BCG was exposed to 0.5-10mug. of isoniazid/ml. there was intracellular accumulation of soluble carbohydrate, combined phosphate and substances absorbing at 260mmu. Yellow pigments were formed when modified Sauton medium was used, but not with Proskauer & Beck medium. These processes were apparent after 1hr. but were more marked after about 6hr. These effects were not found with an isoniazid-resistant strain. 2. After 6hr. exposure of the sensitive strain to 10mug./ml. there was little change in the amounts (per g. of insoluble nitrogen) of total lipid, glycolipid, RNA, DNA or of carbohydrate in the nucleic acid fractions. 3. The major accumulation was of alphaalpha'-trehalose. There was also accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, trehalose 6-phosphate (tentatively identified), a polysaccharide containing only glucose, and an oligosaccharide containing glucose and glucose 6-phosphate, but not of glycerol and glycerol 3-phosphate. The u.v.-absorbing materials appeared to be nucleotide sugar derivatives. 4. In Mycobacterium smegmatis a similar accumulation of trehalose occurred on exposure to isoniazid, but there was little accumulation of other compounds. 5. No evidence could be found that isoniazid specifically affected the oxidation of glycerol or glycerol 3-phosphate. 6. It is suggested that the primary action of isoniazid on mycobacteria may be partial inhibition of a reaction in some central area of metabolism, such as glycolysis.     

Recognition of bacterial capsular polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides by the macrophage mannose receptor

The in vitro binding of the macrophage mannose receptor to a range of different bacterial polysaccharides was investigated. The receptor was shown to bind to purified capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae and to the lipopolysaccharides, but not capsular polysaccharides, from Klebsiella pneumoniae. Binding was Ca(2+)-dependent and inhibitable with d-mannose. A fusion protein of the mannose receptor containing carbohydrate recognition domains 4-7 and a full-length soluble form of the mannose receptor containing all domains external to the transmembrane region both displayed very similar binding specificities toward bacterial polysaccharides, suggesting that domains 4-7 are sufficient for recognition of these structures. Surprisingly, no direct correlation could be made between polysaccharide structure and binding to the mannose receptor, suggesting that polysaccharide conformation may play an important role in recognition. The full-length soluble form of the mannose receptor was able to bind simultaneously both polysaccharide via the carbohydrate recognition domains and sulfated oligosaccharide via the cysteine-rich domain. The possible involvement of the mannose receptor, either cell surface or soluble, in the innate and adaptive immune responses to bacterial polysaccharides is discussed.     

Changes in cell wall polysaccharides and monosaccharides during development and ripening of Japanese pear fruit

1. Changes in polysaccharide and monosaccharide components in thecell wall were studied during cell division, cell enlargmementand softening in Japanese pear fruit. Wall polysaccharides werefractionated into water soluble carbohydrate, NaClO₂ solublecarbohydrate, EDTA soluble carbohydrate, acid soluble hemicellulose,alkali soluble hemicellulose and cellulose. These polysaccharideswere composed of glucose, uronic acid, xylose, arabinose, galactose,rhamnose, mannose and fucose.
2. The total polysaccharide contentof the cell wall per cell (DNAcontent basis) remained constantduring the cell division period(S1). But during the pre-enlargementperiod (S2) it began toincrease rapidly in spite of the slightnessof cell enlargement.Thereafter, during the enlargement period(S3) the polysaccharidesremained almost constant although thefruits enlarged dramatically,and the polysaccharides increasedsomewhat with ripening. Thequality of the polysaccharides,however, seemed to change activelyat each stage. This suggestedthat the extensive fruit enlargementdid not require an increasein polysaccharide content, and wasrather accompanied by thepartial breakdown or partial interconversionof polysaccharidecomponents already present.
3. The loss of arabinose and galactosein acid soluble hemicellulosewas prominant in fruit softeningoccurring in the ripening stage.The cellulose component decreasedwith overripening. Water solublepectin increased parallel tothe increase in total pectin withripening. On the other hand,xylose and non-cellulosic glucoseresidues did not alter withripening or overripening. Non-cellulosicglucose continued toaccumulate during cell enlargement.

¹ This paper is Contribution A-88, Fruit Tree Research Station. (Received August 4, 1978; )     

Fractionation and characterization of polysaccharides from abaca fibre

Abaca fibre polysaccharides were fractionated into water soluble, pectic, 1% NaOH soluble, hemicellulosic and cellulose fractions by extraction with hot water, dilute hydrochloric acid (pH 1.6), aqueous 1% NaOH and 17.5% NaOH, respectively. Cellulose (60.4–63.6%) and hemicelluloses (20.8%) were the major polysaccharides in abaca fibres. The hot water soluble polysaccharides contained noticeable amounts of pectic substances and a large proportion of neutral polysaccharides. The pectic polysaccharide preparation was enriched in both galacturonic acid and neutral sugars, including xylose, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and rhamnose. Extraction of the fibre with aqueous 1% NaOH produced the hemicellulose–lignin complex, which was enriched in xylose and, to a lesser extent, glucose-, arabinose- and galactose-containing polysaccharides, together with 7.6% associated lignin. Further extraction of the delignified fibre residue with aqueous 17.5%. NaOH removed the hemicellulose fractions, which were strongly enriched in xylose-containing polysaccharides. Besides ferulic and p-coumaric acids, six other phenolic monomers were also detected in the mixtures of alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation of associated lignin in all the polysaccharide fractions. The content of bound lignin in water soluble, pectic, and 1% NaOH soluble polysaccharides (Fractions 1, 2, and 3), isolated directly from the lignified fibres, was 12 times that of the hemicellulosic preparations (Fractions 4 and 5) isolated from the delignified fibre residues.     

Production of extracellular polysaccharides by Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus NCFB 2772 grown in a chemically defined medium

Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus NCFB 2772 produced an extracellular polysaccharide when grown in a chemically defined medium with glucose or lactose as the substrate carbohydrate. The isolated extracellular polysaccharide had a sugar composition of glucose, galactose and rhamnose in a ratio of 1:6.8:0.7. The production of extracellular polysaccharides increased at higher temperatures, but the bacterium rapidly lost its polysaccharide producing ability at 47°C. Production of polysaccharides was growth-related: no polysaccharide production was found after growth had ceased. An excess carbohydrate did not result in increased polysaccharide production.     

Hemicellulosic polymers from the leaves of coffea arabica

Polysaccharide fractions from leaves of Coffea arabica var. Mundo Novo were obtained by extraction with 24% potassium hydroxide solution and were found to contain rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose, glucuronic acid and 4-O-methylglucuronic acid in different proportions. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxygalactose was detected in all fractions. The structures of the carbohydrate portions were analysed by methylation and Smith degradation. A high amount of 2,3,5-tri-O-methylarabinose and 2,3,4-tri-O-methylxylose units, which are related through end groups, suggested a large degree of branching in the polysaccharide fractions. Glucose was present mainly as (1 → 4)-linked residues, as indicated by the presence of 2,3,6-tri-O-methylglucitol in the hydrolysates of the methylated fractions. A greater proportion of monomethylxylitol in acidic fraction B-IV indicated that it was more branched than the others. The glucose and galactose residues are 4,6- and 3,4-di-O-substituted, respectively. Three successive Smith degradations gave mainly glycerol with some erythritol and threitol. In the linkage of carbohydrate—protein, the presence of O-glycosyl linkages between arabinose and hydroxyproline was indicated. A phenolic compound was detected in all polysaccharide fractions from leaves of the coffee tree and is probably derived from chlorogenic acid.     

Carbohydrate Storage in the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana was grown in 1% (wt/vol) gelatin-liquid media singly supplemented with a monosaccharide (glucose or fructose), a disaccharide (maltose or trehalose), a polyol (glycerol, mannitol, or sorbitol), or the amino sugar N-acetyl-d-glucosamine. The relative contributions of the carbohydrate, protein, and water contents in the fungal biomass were determined. Carbohydrates composed 18 to 42% of the mycelial dry weight, and this value was lowest in unsupplemented medium and highest in medium supplemented with glucose, glycerol, or trehalose. Biomass production was highest in liquid cultures supplemented with trehalose. When liquid cultures were grown in medium supplemented with 0 to 1% (wt/vol) glucose, trehalose, or N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, there was an increase in the biomass production and the contribution of carbohydrate to mycelial dry weight. Regardless of the glucose concentration in the culture, water content of the mycelia remained about 77.5% (wt/wt). Mycelial storage carbohydrates were determined by capillary gas chromatography. In gelatin-liquid medium supplemented with 1% (wt/vol) glucose, B. bassiana stored glycogen (12.0%, wt/dry wt) and the polyols mannitol (2.2%), erythritol (1.6%), glycerol (0.4%), and arabitol (0.1%). Without glucose, B. bassiana stored glycogen (5.4%), mannitol (0.8%), glycerol (0.6%), and erythritol (0.6%) but not arabitol. To our knowledge, this is the first report of carbohydrate storage in an entomopathogenic fungus, and the results are discussed in relation to other fungi and the potential implications to commercial formulation and insect-fungus interactions.     

Polysaccharide changes in cell walls of ripening apples

Changes in the polysaccharide composition of apple fruits ripening on and off the tree were compared. Polysaccharide fractions defined by their method of extraction were analysed colorimetrically, and the monosaccharide composition of total acetone insoluble material was analysed. Neutral carbohydrate associated with pectic extractives decreased; correspondingly galactose residues were lost in detached fruit, while galactose and arabinose residues were lost in fruit on the tree. Decreases in hemicellulose were correlated with losses of wall glucan; xylose contents did not change. Soluble polyuronide increased especially in detached fruit. DEAE-cellulose chromatography showed that this polyuronide was free from neutral sugar residues. Amounts of soluble neutral polysaccharides and glycoproteins did not change during fruit ripening.     

The O-acetylation patterns in the O-antigens of Hafnia alvei strains PCM 1200 and 1203, serologically closely related to PCM 1205

Serological tests revealed immunochemical similarities between the lipopolysaccharides of Hafnia alvei strains PCM 1200, 1203 and 1205. Immunoblotting and ELISA showed cross-reactions between the strains. NMR spectroscopy showed that the O-deacetylated O-specific polysaccharides isolated from lipopolysaccharides of H. alvei strains PCM 1200 and 1203 possessed the same composition and sequence as the O-deacetylated O-specific polysaccharide of H. alvei strain PCM 1205, that is a glycerol teichoic-acid-like polymer with a repeating unit of the following structure: [carbohydrate structure: see text] NMR spectroscopic studies of the polysaccharides concluded that O-3 of the side chain beta-D-GlcpNAc is partially O-acetylated (50-80%) in both investigated strains. In strain PCM 1203 an additional O-acetyl group (50-80%) is linked to O-6 of the chain -->3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1--> residue. The structural features of the isolated O-specific polysaccharides were also the same as those of the O-specific polysaccharides on the bacterial cells directly observed by the HR-MAS NMR technique.     

Composition and properties of pectin polysaccharides of St. John’s wort Hypericum Perforatum L.

Three fractions of acidic water-soluble polysaccharides (concentration of glucuronic acid 10?C65%) were obtained from the above-ground part of St. Johns wort Hypericum perforatum L. by serial extraction with water and 0.7% aqueous solution of ammonium oxalate. Enzymatic hydrolysis of these polysaccharides using endo-polygalacturonase indicates that their carbohydrate chains contain the units of galacturone formed by 1,4-??-linked residues of non-substituted D-galacturonic acid. The extracted polysaccharides have been purified by means of gel filtration. It has been shown that water-soluble polysaccharides obtained by extraction with water manly contain the residues of galactose, mannose, glucose, and arabinose (the concentration of glucuronic acid being 10?C27%) while the polysaccharide fraction extracted using 0.7% aqueous solution of ammonium oxalate is presented by pectin polysaccharides. Only the residues of galacturonic acid (55?C72%) have been identified among glucuronic acids in its composition using chromatography/mass spectrometry of trimethylsilyl derivatives. In addition, this fraction contains the residues of the neutral monosaccharides which are typical for pectins: arabinoses, galactoses, rhamnoses, and glucose; there are also minor concentrations of residues of xylose and mannose. IR spectra of pectin polysaccharides of St. John??s wort have absorption bands in the ranges 1740, 1640?C1620, 1236?C1200, and 1200?C1000 cm^?1 which are typical for pectins. It has been demonstrated that aqueous solutions of pectin polysaccharides of St. John??s wort (2 mg/mL) have pronounced antioxidant activity (44% of the activity of trolox taken for 100%).     

Control of starch and exocellular polysaccharides biosynthesis by gibberellic acid with cells of sweet potato cultured in vitro

The regulation of starch synthesis and exocellular polysaccharide synthesis by GA₃ was studied with cells of sweet potato grown as suspension in glycerol medium. In the presence of GA₃, and under normal cell growth, starch formation was inhibited. The incorporation activity (starch synthesis) from ADP-[¹⁴C] glucose or UDP-[¹⁴C] glucose with GA₃ treated cells was reduced. On the other hand, the synthesis of exocellular polysaccharides composed of glucose, galactose, mannose and arabinose etc., was stimulated and a clear increase of the Man/Ara ratio was observed in the presence of GA₃. These results may indicate that GA₃ affects the regulation of starch synthesis and exocellular polysaccharide synthesis.     

Chemical characterisation of the released polysaccharide from the cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica GR02

The released polysaccharide from the halophilic cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica GR02 was separated into two main fractions byanion-exchange chromatography. The major fraction consisted of glucose,fucose, mannose, arabinose and glucuronic acid. Judging from thechromatography on Sepharose 2B, the major fraction was not furtherfractionated, and its apparent molecular weight was above 2.0 × 10⁶ Da.The minor fraction consisted of rhamnose, mannose, fucose,glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid, with traces of arabinose.Methylation and GC-MS spectrometry analyses of the major fractionrevealed the presence of 1-linked glucose, 1,3-linked glucose, 1,3-linkedfucose, 1,4-linked fucose, 1,3-linked arabinose, 1,2,4-linked mannose,1,3,6-linked mannose, 1-linked glucuronic acid and 1,3-linked glucuronicacid residues. The major fraction was thought to originate from capsularpolysaccharide. The released polysaccharides, obtained from cultures atdifferent age of culture, showed no striking variations in themonosaccharide composition and the relative proportions of themonosaccharides. However, the proportions of galactose and rhamnose inthe released polysaccharides, obtained from cultures under different salinity,were significantly different. The released polysaccharide also exhibitedgelling properties and strong affinity for metal ions.     

Turnover of cell wall polysaccharides of a Vinca rosea suspension culture

Three-day-cultured cells of Vinca rosea L. (in the cell division phase) and 5-day-cultured cells (in the cell expansion phase) prelabelled with d -[U-¹⁴C] glucose were incubated in a medium containing unlabelled glucose. After various periods of chase, extra-cellular polysaccharides (ECP) and cell walls were isolated, and cell walls were fractionated into pectic substances, hemicellulose, and cellulose fractions. After acid hydrolysis, the radioactive constituents in the pectic substances and hemicellulose fractions were analyzed. Active turnover was observed in arabinose and galactose in the hemicellulose fraction of cell walls, while the constituents of the pectic substances, and xylose and glucose in the hemicellulose fraction did not undergo active turnover. The proportion of radioactivities of arabinose and galactose in total radioactivity of ECP increased markedly after chasing. These results indicate that arabinogalactan was synthesized, deposited in the cell wall, degraded rapidly, and made soluble in the medium as a part of ECP.     

Soluble Cell Wall Polysaccharides Released from Pea Stems by Centrifugation : II. EFFECT OF ETHYLENE

The effect of ethylene on cell wall metabolism in sections excised from etiolated pea stems was studied. Ethylene causes an inhibition of elongation and a pronounced radial expansion of pea internodes as shown by an increase in the fresh weight of excised, 1-cm sections. Cell wall metabolism was studied using centrifugation to remove the cell wall solution from sections. The principal neutral sugars in the cell wall solution extracted with H₂O are arabinose, xylose, galactose, and glucose. Both xylose and glucose decline relative to controls in air within 1 hour of exposure to ethylene. Arabinose and galactose levels are not altered by ethylene until 8 hours of treatment, whereupon they decline in controls in air relative to ethylene treatment. When alcohol-insoluble polymers are fractionated into neutral and acidic polysaccharides, xylose and glucose predominate in the neutral fraction and arabinose and galactose in the acidic fraction. Ethylene depresses the levels of xylose and glucose in the neutral fraction and elevates arabinose and galactose in the acidic fraction. Ethylene treatment does not affect the level of uronic acids extracted with H₂O; however, the level of hydroxyproline-rich proteins in this water-extracted cell wall solution is increased by ethylene. Extraction of sections with CaCl₂ results in an increase in the levels of neutral sugars particularly arabinose. Ethylene depresses the yield of arabinose in calcium-extracted solution relative to controls in air. Similarly, extraction with CaCl₂ increases the yield of extracted hydroxyproline in ethanol-insoluble polymers and ethylene depresses its level relative to controls. Metabolism of uronic acids and neutral sugars and growth in response to ethylene treatment contrast markedly with auxin-induced polysaccharide metabolism and growth. With auxin, sections increase mostly in length not radius, and this growth form is associated with an increase in the levels of xylose, glucose, and uronic acids. With ethylene, on the other hand, stem elongation is suppressed and expansion is promoted, and this growth pattern is associated with a decrease in xylose and glucose in the ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides.     

Water unextractable polysaccharides from three milling fractions of rye grain

Water unextractable material from bran, an intermediate milling fraction and sieved flour of rye grain were sequentially extracted at room temperature with saturated barium hydroxide, water, 4 M potassium hydroxide and water followed by extraction with 2 potassium hydroxide in a boiling water bath, giving repeatable recoveries of extracts and polysaccharide residue compositions in collected fractions. Total recoveries of polysaccharide residues in extracts and residue from the different water unextractable materials were 78–88%. Extracts in which 90–93% of the carbohydrates were arabinose and xylose residues were obtained by extraction with saturated barium hydroxide. Subsequent extraction with water yielded a fraction in which 64–68% of the carbohydrates were glucose residues. The extraction with hot alkali resulted in extracts in which 85–89% of the carbohydrates were arabinose and xylose residues. The ara/xyl ratio in the collected fractions ranged from 0.1–1.3, with the lowest ratios in fractions that precipitated after neutralisation of the 4 potassium hydroxide extract and the highest ratios in the unextractable residues. Structural characterisation with ¹H-NMR spectroscopy revealed varying substitution patterns for arabinoxylans in the different extracts and that glucose residues in the extracts essentially originated from mixed-linked β-glucan. The proportion of disubstituted xylose residues was lower in barium hydroxide extracts compared to the other main extracts. A highly branched heteroxylan was extracted with hot alkali. The polysaccharides found in the corresponding extracts for all the starting materials had generally similar structural features, but the yield differed considerably.     

The gel-forming polysaccharide of psyllium husk (Plantago ovata Forsk)

The physiologically active, gel-forming fraction of the alkali-extractable polysaccharides of Plantago ovata Forsk seed husk (psyllium seed) and some derived partial hydrolysis products were studied by compositional and methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Resolving the conflicting claims of previous investigators, the material was found to be a neutral arabinoxylan (arabinose 22.6%, xylose 74.6%, molar basis; only traces of other sugars). With about 35% of nonreducing terminal residues, the polysaccharide is highly branched. The data are compatible with a structure consisting of a densely substituted main chain of beta-(1-->4)-linked D-xylopyranosyl residues, some carrying single xylopyranosyl side chains at position 2, others bearing, at position 3, trisaccharide branches having the sequence L-Araf-alpha-(1-->3)-D-Xylp-beta-(1-->3)-l-Araf. The presence of this sequence is supported by methylation and NMR data, and by the isolation of the disaccharide 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-L-arabinose as a product of partial acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide.     

Bioactive polysaccharides from the stems of the Thai medicinal plant Acanthus ebracteatus: their chemical and physical features

Crude water-soluble polysaccharides were isolated from Acanthus ebracteatus by hot water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation after pre-treatment with 80% ethanol. The crude polysaccharides were separated into neutral and acidic polysaccharides by anion-exchange chromatography. The neutral polysaccharide (A1001) was rich in galactose, 3-O-methylgalactose and arabinose, whereas the acidic polysaccharide (A1002) consisted mainly of galacturonic acid along with rhamnose, arabinose and galactose as minor components indicating a pectin-type polysaccharide with rhamnogalacturonan type I (RG-1) backbone. 3-O-Methylgalactose is also present in the acidic fraction. Both neutral and acidic fractions showed potent effects on the complement system using pectic polysaccharide PM II from Plantago major as a positive control. A small amount of 3-O-methylgalactose present in the pectin seemed to be of importance for activity enhancement in addition to the amount of neutral sugar side chains attached to RG-1. The relationship between chemical structure and effect on the complement system of the isolated polysaccharides is considered in the light of these data. The presence of the rare monosaccharide 3-O-methylgalactose may indicate that this can be used as a chemotaxonomic marker. The traditional way of using this plant as a medical remedy appears to have a scientific basis.     

Purification and methylation analysis of cell wall material from Solanum tuberosum

Cell wall material (CWM) of potatoes was prepared by sequentially extracting the wet ball-milled tissue with 1 % aq. Na deoxycholate, PhOHHOAcH₂O and 90 % (v/v) aq. DMSO. The purity of the CWM (e.g. absence of residual starch) was established by carbohydrate analysis using different acid hydrolysis conditions and by methylation studies. The partially methylated alditol acetates from the CHCl₃MeOH soluble fraction (S) of the methylated CWM were separated into 15 main peaks by GLC. Fourteen of these peaks were carbohydrate derivatives and the identity of most of these was established by MS. Reduction of the hydrolysate of S with NaBD₄ was used to identify the carbohydrate derivatives present in peaks 7 and 11 above. The occurrence of 4-linked galacturonosyl residues in the methylated polymers was established after reduction of S with LiAlH₄ and LiAlD₄. The main glycosidic linkages present in the non-cellulosic polysaccharides of the wall in descending order of concentration are: 4-linked galactose, 4-linked galacturonic acid, 5-linked arabinose and 4,6-linked glucose. The major branch points are those through 0–6 of glucose and 0–4 of rhamnose. Arabinose, galactose and xylose residues constituted the non-reducing ends. Graded acid hydrolysis of the CWM made it possible to assess the relative strengths of some of the glycosidic linkages. The general structural features of the CWM are discussed in the light of these results.     

千斤拔多糖的提取纯化及其结构鉴定

利用正交试验考察千斤拔多糖的提取工艺,并比较脱蛋白方法中的Sevag法和三氯乙酸法的纯化效果,总糖含量测定采用苯酚-硫酸法,蛋白质含量测定采用考马斯亮蓝法;采用DEAE-52纤维柱法来分离多糖,并运用HPLC色谱来分析千斤拔多糖中的单糖成分。结果表明:经正交试验得出千斤拔多糖的最佳提取条件为时间2.5 h,料液比为1∶30,温度80℃,其多糖得率为8.558%。对比两种脱蛋白的方法,Sevage法萃取3次时蛋白的脱除效果最好。经DEAE-52纤维柱来分离多糖共分得7个组分。经HPLC色谱鉴定出有葡萄糖,甘露糖和阿拉伯糖,主要单糖成分为葡萄糖。     

Optimization of ultrasonic circulating extraction of polysaccharides from Asparagus officinalis using response surface methodology

Polysaccharides were extracted from Asparagus officinalis. A novel ultrasonic circulating extraction (UCE) technology was applied for the polysaccharide extraction. Three-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize ultrasonic power, extraction time and the liquid-solid ratio to obtain a high polysaccharide yield. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: ultrasonic power was 600 W, extraction time was 46 min, the liquid-solid ratio was 35 mL/g. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of polysaccharides was 3.134%, which was agreed closely to the predicted value. The average molecular weight of A. officinalis polysaccharide was about 6.18 × 10⁴ Da. The polysaccharides were composed of glucose, fucose, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose in a ratio of 2.18:1.86:1.50:0.98:1.53. Compared with hot water extraction (HWE), UCE showed time-saving, higher yield and no influence on the structure of asparagus polysaccharides. The results indicated that ultrasonic circulating extraction technology could be an effective and advisable technique for the large scale production of plant polysaccharides.