An alkali-soluble heteroxylan from seeds of Phoenix dactylifera L.

Abstract Alkali-soluble polysaccharides, isolated from the seeds of dates, have been investigated using methylation and partial hydrolysis studies. The polysaccharides are shown to contain d -xylose and 4- O -methyl- d -glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 5:1. An aldobiouronic acid from hemicellulose was characterized, and investigation revealed that the hemicellulose consists of a polymer of (1→4)-linked d -xylopranosyl residues having branches of d -xylopyranosyl and 4- O -methyl-α- d -glucopyranosyluronic acid.