Abstract
Crude,phamaceutically useful water-soluble polysaccharides have been isolated from Durian rind(Durio zibethinus Murr) by hot water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation.The polysaccharides were fractionated by anion exchange chomatography and size exclusion chomatography.Characterisation of the sub-fraction by methanolysis,methalation analysis and NMR spectroscopy revealed that the principal components were pectic polysaccharides with starch asa contaminant.Physical features namely molecular weight(Mw)and intrinsic viscosity of the main fractions were investigated by size exclusion chomatography coupled to multi angel laser light scattering (SEC/MALLS) andcapillary viscometer,respectively.The main fractions were subjected to the complement-fixation assay and the relationship of the chemical features of the polysaccharides fraction with their activity was also considered.