Polysaccharide from the leaves ofPhytolacca americana

A polysaccharide has been isolated from the leaves ofPhytolacca americana and has been characterized. It has been established that it contains residues of galactose, arabinose, xylose, and rhamnose, in a ratio of 3:4:1:3 and also D-galacturonic acid (85–90%). The results obtained permit the polysaccharide to be assigned to the class of pectin substances.