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Abstract
Xylan polysaccharides previously obtained from argan (Argania spinosa) leaves by sequential alkaline extractions and purified by chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B were fragmented by acid hydrolysis in 2 M HCl. The resulting fragments were separated by gel filtration on Biogel P2. The oligosaccharide fractions obtained were then characterized by gas–liquid chromatography (GLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The results show the presence of acidic oligosaccharide motifs, some of which composed of xylose and 4-O-methylglucuronic acid and other ones comprising rhamnose and galacturonic acid.
Public Interest Statement
In the context of the valorisation of the Algerian southern trees, it seemed useful to us to be interested in parietal polysaccharides of the Argan leaves and more particularly hemicelluloses. These macromolecules constitute a source of chemicals that the agro-alimentary, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries exploit for their remarkable properties. In this study, xylan hemicellulosic extracts, subjected to a fractionation step by size exclusion chromatography on a Sepharose CL-4B gel column, have been hydrolyzed with HCl. This acid hydrolysis is a non-selective method which, thanks to its random breaking mode, makes it possible to obtain a wide range of different oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharide fractions thus obtained have been purified on a Biogel P2 column. Acid hydrolysis of the xylan fractions revealed the presence of some acidic oligosaccharide units, composed of xylose and 4-O-methylglucuronic acid and others ones, of pectic nature, comprising rhamnose and galacturonic acid.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge Vincent Sol, director of the Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances (LCSN-EA 1069—France) for his warm and friendly welcome, David Ropartz for Mass Spectrometry analyses, and Dr Michel Guilloton for manuscript editing.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Kadda Hachem
Our group is particularly interested in polysaccharides, of plant or microbial origin, due to their quantitative importance in terms of biomass and their very high structural richness; this large diversity is responsible for their various chemical properties and their specific biological activities. In addition to polysaccharides, we are currently developing the study of the chemical and biological properties of phenolic derivatives found in plant biomass, with a view to their valorization.