Structure of Salmalia Malabarica Gum. Part I. Nature of Sugars Present and the Structure of Aldobiuronic Acid

Salmalia malabarica gum on complete hydrolysis yields a mixture of L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid, and possibly rhamncose (traces). Partial Hydrolysis of the gum generates an aldobiuronio acid which has been shown to ho 6.0- (β-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose from methylation studies. Periodate-oxidation experiments indicate the highly branched nature of the gum molecule.