Effect of methylation on the structure and radical scavenging activity of polysaccharides from longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) fruit pericarp

Polysaccharides of longan fruit pericarp (PLFP) were purified by gel filtration chromatography and methylated by methyl iodide. The structure of methylated PLFP was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the percentages of methylated Ara, Glc and Gal increased gradually to a maximal value with increasing volume of methyl iodide. Methylation resulted in a decrease in the DPPH radical scavenging activity of PLFP, while the superoxide anion radical scavenging activity of PLFP decreased with increasing the degree of methylation. When the degree of methylation reached up to 47.4% or a higher value, a promoted effect on the generation of superoxide anion was observed. Furthermore, a high correlation coefficient between degree of methylation and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity of PLFP was determined, which indicated the important role of hydroxyl groups of monosaccharide units in the radical scavenging activity of PLFP.