The aim of this study was to study the conformational changing when sulfated groups were introduced to the molecular chain of native tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP). Light Scattering (LS) method was used to determine conformation of TSP and its sulfated derivative TSPS. The results indicated that both TSP and TSPS have a highly branched and more sphere-like molecule; however, after sulfation, the TSPS became more branched structure than native polysaccharide. | Vietnam Journal of Chemistry, International Edition, 55(2): 236-239, 2017 DOI: Study on conformational structure of tamarind seed polysaccharide and its sulfated derivative by light scattering method Bui Ngoc Tan1,2, Quach Thi Minh Thu2, Thanh Thi Thu Thuy2* 1 2 Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy Institute of Chemistry Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Received 15 July 2016; Accepted for publication 11 April 2017 Abstract The aim of this study was to study the conformational changing when sulfated groups were introduced to the molecular chain of native tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP). Light Scattering (LS) method was used to determine conformation of TSP and its sulfated derivative TSPS. The results indicated that both TSP and TSPS have a highly branched and more sphere-like molecule; however, after sulfation, the TSPS became more branched structure than native polysaccharide. Keywords. Tamarind seed polysaccharide, conformation, light scattering. 1. INTRODUCTION Tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) belongs to xyloglucan family obtained from the seed of tamarind tree Tamarindus indica. TSP possesses properties like high viscosity, broad pH tolerance, noncarcinogenicity, mucoadhesive nature, and biocompatibility; therefore, it is used as stabilizer, suspending agent, thickener, gelling agent, and binder in food and pharmaceutical industries [1, 2]. Polysaccharides are known to reveal the biological functions by forming a specific conformation. For example, branched poly- (1 3)D-Glucan has a strong anti-tumor activity, which may be associated with its specific chain conformation, while curdlan, a linear poly- (1 3)D-Glucan, has no anti-tumor activity although it assumes a triple-stranded helical conformation, but by sulfation, curdlan sulfate has anti-HIV activity [3]. Therefore, the elucidations of the molecular structure for both chemical structure and conformation can expand the application of a particular .
