Structural and compositional studies of potential immunomodulatory polysaccharides found in locally grown plants

• Main Author: Ramsout, Ronica
• Other Authors: Ravenscroft, Neil
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Chemistry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6358

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-79) === This project looked at the composition and structure of polysaccharides extracted from two locally grown plants, namely Aloe ferox and Agave americana, to evaluate them as possible sources of commercial health products. Aloe vera, a well known medicinal plant with many healing properties, contains acemannan, a highly water-soluble mannose rich glucomannan, which has demonstrated immunogenic responses in humans and animals. Aloe ferox, a locally grown species, is commercially marketed as an equivalent to Aloe vera and is being substituted in various health products. This project examined the suitability of Aloe ferox as a substitute for Aloe vera by investigating the chemical nature of the water-soluble Aloe ferox polysaccharides. Findings from composition analysis revealed that polysaccharides found in the leaves of Aloe ferox are not mannose rich and are not highly soluble in water, like their Aloe vera counterparts; but instead are more readily soluble in aqueous (NH₄)₂C₂O₄ as previously reported.