| Pak. J. Bot., 36(2): 381-388, 2004. | Back to Contents | ||||
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Updated: 09-07-09 | ||||
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CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ASTRAGALUS: CARBOHYDRATES AND MUCILAGE CONTENT V. NIKNAM* AND Y. SALEHI LISAR
Abstract: This
study was conducted to determine the content of carbohydrates and mucilage in
roots and leaflets of different Astragalus species for the first time from
Iran. The content of reducing sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in
roots of the species were determined spectrophoto-metrically. The content and
sugar composition of the mucilages in leaflets was determined by gravimetry and
gas-liquid chromatography, respectively. According to the results of this research,
the content of sugars in roots and mucilage in leaflets depends on the factors
such as the species and geographical location of the plants. Reducing sugars,
oligosaccharides and polysaccharides content in roots of the species varied from
0.11-0.90, 2.21-7.27 and 1.3-7.33% dry weight, respectively. The mucilage content
in leaflets of different species varied from 5.32 to19.24% dry weight.
Department
of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R. Iran. |
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