Chemical structure and antioxidant activity of a new exopolysaccharide produced from Micrococcus luteus

An exopolysaccharide (EPS) reaching a maximum of 13 g/L was isolated from Micrococcusluteus by ethanol precipitation. The crude EPS was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephacryl S-200, affording a polysaccharide active fraction (AEP) with a molecular weight of ∼137 kDa. AEP was investigated by a combination of chemical and chromatographic methods including FTIR, HPLC, periodate oxidation, methylation and GC–MS. Data obtained indicated that AEP was composed of mannose, arabinose, glucose and glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 3.6:2.7:2.1:1.0, respectively. The main backbone consists of mannose units linked with (1→6)-glycosidic bonds and arabinose units linked with (1→5)-glycosidic bonds. There is a side chain consisting of mannose units linked with (1→6)-glycosidic bonds at C3, when all glucose and most of glucuronic acid are found in the side chain. The in vitro antioxidant assay showed that AEP possesses DPPH radical-scavenging activity, with an EC50 value of 180 μg/mL.