Structural elucidation of a pectic polysaccharide from Fructus Mori and its bioactivity on intestinal bacteria strains.

•The structure of a rhamnogalacturonan from Fructus Mori was characterized.•The backbone of this polysaccharide was alternate 1, 4-α-GalpA and 1, 2-α-Rhap.•The branches contain T-, 1, 4- and 1, 3, 6-linked β-Galp, T- and 1, 5-linked α-Araf.•This polysaccharide may promote growth of intestinal bacteria B. thetaiotaomicron.