The proteinaceous, gum polysaccharide from Azadirachta indica A. Juss

The gum exuded by Azadirachta indica trees contains 35% of proteinaceous material. The most abundant amino acid is aspartic acid; there are also considerable proportions of serine and threonine, and at least 2% of amino sugars. Attempts to deproteinise the polysaccharide material were unsuccessful. Fractionation of the gum exudate on agarose columns gave a protein-depleted fraction of high molecular weight and a protein-enriched fraction of lower molecular weight. Studies involving molecular-sieve chromatography showed a close correspondence in protein and carbohydrate content, and it appears that the proportion of proteinaceous component that is free or only loosely associated with carbohydrate is small. The carbohydrate component is much more complex than was indicated by earlier investigators. In addition to galactose and arabinose (major components), mannose, xylose, fucose, and rhamnose are also present. The uronic acid content (28%) is higher than previously believed, and a relatively high methoxyl content has been found. The major aldobiouronic acid, previously undetected, is 4-O-(4-O-methyl-- -glucopyranosyluronic acid)- -galactose, with 4-O-(- -glucopyranosyluronic acid)- -galactose also present. The exudate from Azadirachta indica is therefore a complex material having several features that are unusual in gum chemistry.