Structural Investigation of Cell Wall Xylan Polysaccharides from the Leaves of Algerian Argania spinosa

Xylan-type polysaccharides were isolated from the leaves of (L.) Skeels collected in the Tindouf area (southwestern Algeria). Xylan fractions were obtained by sequential alkaline extractions and purified on Sepharose CL-4B. The xylan structure was investigated by enzymatic hydrolysis with an endo-β(1→4)-xylanase followed by chromatography of the resulting fragments on Biogel P2, characterization by sugar analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS ). The results show that the xylan is composed of a β-(1→4)-d-xylopyranose backbone substituted with 4- -methyl-d-glucuronic acid and L-arabinose residues.