Elsevier, Carbohydrate Polymers, (121), p. 224-230
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.12.034
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A structural characterization of polysaccharides obtained from edible tropical fruit named starfruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) was carried out. After fractionation by freeze–thaw and Fehling precipitation, a pectic polysaccharide was obtained. It was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose and uronic acid in the 5.0:72.5:12.1:10.4 molar ratios, respectively. A combination of monosaccharide, GPC, methylation and NMR analysis and enzymatic hydrolysis with endo-β-(1 → 4)-D-galactanase showed the presence of a rhamnogalacturonan I to which a branched arabinan and a type I arabinogalactan are attached. The arabinan moiety was formed by (1 → 5)-linked α-L-Araf units in the backbone, branched only at O-3 by (1 → 2)- and (1 → 3)-linked α-L-Araf units, while the type I arabinogalactan was formed by (1 → 4)- and (1 → 4,6)-linked β-D-Galp units in the backbone with (1 → 5)-, (1 → 3,5)- and (1 → 3)-linked α-L-Araf units as side chains.