Purification and structural analysis of a novel polysaccharide from Rehmannia Radix Praeparata

Abstract In this paper, the purification, structure, and antioxidant activity of Rehmannia Radix Praeparata polysaccharide (RRPP) were studied. The RRPP was separated using DEAE‐52 cellulose and Sephadex G‐100. The RRPP consisted of xylose, glucose, rhamnose, galactose, and mannose in ratios of 10.64:5.58:3.52:1.39:1.0. No protein was detected in the RRPP fraction, and the molecular weight of RRPP was about 1.75 × 10 6 Da. The basic skeleton information was obtained using periodic acid oxidation—Smith degradation, and RRPP contained 1→, 1 → 2, 1 → 3, 1 → 4, 1 → 2,6, 1 → 4,6 or 1 → 6, 1 → 2,3, 1 → 2,3,4, and other glycosidic bonds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also showed that RRPP has both α‐ and β‐glycosidic bonds. The in vitro antioxidant activity test showed that RRPP could potentialize scavenging effect on ABTS +· and its scavenging rate was 91.3%.