Mucilages and Pectins of Opuntia, Tamarindus and Cydonia

Abstract

The polysaccharides of stems of Opuntia ficusindica, seeds of Tamarindus indica and seeds of Cydonia oblonga were found to consist of a mixture of mucilage and pectin. The preparation of each polysaccharide could be achieved in an almost pure state. The mucilage could be extracted with cold acidulated water while the pectin was obtained by heating the marc successively at 90° C with water (2 hours), ammonium oxalate solution (1 hour) and acidulated water (2 hours). In each case the polysaccharide was precipatated with ethanol.

Each plant organ was specially treated according to its content of foreign substances prior to extraction of mucilage and pectin. The chemical composition of mucilage and pectin hydrolysates was analysed qualitatively by TLC and quantitatively by GLC Differentiation between mucilage and pectin of the same plant organ was effected by studying their relative viscosity, reaction with potassium hydroxide, gel formation and determination of methoxyl group and galacturonic acid contents.

Key Word Index

Opuntia ficus indica - Tamarindus indica - Cydonia oblonga - Polysaccharides - Mucilage - Pectin.