Qualitative content and some physical and chemical properties of polysaccharides from onopordum acanthium l. herb

Natural polymers are interesting as independent pharmaceutical substances also as complex drugs including herbal drugs. The aim of this work was determination of the main features of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPS) and pectinic substances (PS) isolated from Onopordum acanthium L. herb for using as pharmaceutical substances. The following tasks were set to achieve this aim: determination of qualitative content of monosaccharides after previous acidic hydrolysis of fractions by paper chromatography, determination of molecular weight, isoelectric point, distribution coefficient, superficial activity these fractions by physical and chemical methods. It was found that WSPS consist of xylose and rhamnose, PS – galacturonic acid. WSPS have molecular weighs 783.96 g/mol, PS – 17351.37 g/mol. Molecules WSPS are neutralize in buffer solution with pH 5.2 and PS – pH 4.7. Also WSPS and PS have similar distribution activity with distribution coefficient 2.97 and 2.59, respectively. But WSPS and PS are superficially inactive substances. Determinate features including well distribution activity may be used for development complex herbal drugs containing herb of Onopordum acanthium L. Also sorption activity should be detected in the future.