Isolation, structure and activity of a novel water-soluble polysaccharide from Dioscorea opposita Thunb

A previously unknown, water-soluble polysaccharide, named DOTP-B, was isolated from the roots of the plant Dioscorea opposita Thunb, a well-known edible and medicinal plant in China. DOTP-B was found to be neutral in charge, with an average molecular weight of 5623 Da. Monosaccharide composition analysis by GC–MS revealed that DOTP-B was a hetero-polysaccharide consisting of glucose and galactose at a molar ratio of 14.6:1.0. Structural features...