Characterization of glucomanan from amorphophallus panomensis in Vietnam

Abstract

A glucomannan has been isolated from the tuber of Amorphophalhis panomensis by a simple method without using toxic chemicals. The glucomannan content of the tuber was 4% (w/w). The structure of the glucomannan was investigated by IR and NMR spectroscopy revealing that it consists of mannose and glucose units with a mannose/glucose ratio of about 1.00/0.13. The degree of crystallization was investigated by XRD diffraction revealing that tìie glucomannan was amorphous. The molecular weight was determined by viscosunetry to be of 1.2x10⁶ Da.