Structure analysis of a neutral polysaccharide isolated from green tea

A neutral polysaccharide, coded as NTPS-1, was obtained from the crude tea polysaccharide (NTPS) of green tea (Camellia sinesis) by a DEAE-Sepharose fast flow column. The polysaccharide appeared to be homogenous with the weight of 21,247 Da by the high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) analysis. The NTPS-1 was found to consist of galactose. The structure of NTPS-1 was characterized by infrared (IR) spectrum, gas chromatography (GC), periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy. It was found that NTPS-1 was a galactan consisting of β-(1→4)-linked galactopyranosyl units.