A water-soluble galactomannan from the seeds of Phoenix dactylifera L.

A water-soluble polysaccharide, isolated from the seeds of dates, has been investigated using methylation, periodate and CrO3 oxidation, NMR spectroscopy, and reaction with Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin and α-d-galactosidase. The polysaccharide consists of a backbone composed of (1→4)-β-d-mannopyranosyl residues and carries a single (1→6)-α-linked d-galactopyranosyl residue.