THE STRUCTURE OF THE "GUM ASAFOETIDA" POLYSACCHARIDE

The polysaccharide from gum asafoetida contains D-galactose, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid, and D-glucuronic acid. It is a highly branched polymer which contains a backbone of D-galactopyranose residues which are very probably mainly 1,3-β-linked.The side chains consist of residues of L-arabinofuranose, D-galactopyranose, D-glucuronic acid, and its 4-O-methyl ether.