An antitumor pectic polysaccharide from Feronia limonia

An acidic heteropolysaccharide has been isolated from the tropical angiosperm Feronia limonia syn. F. elephantum (family: Rutaceae). A partially carboxymethylated α-(1–4) polygalacturonan backbone structure with 2- and 2,4- O-α- l-rhamnopyranosyl, 2- and 2,3- O-α- l-arabinofuranosyl and 3-, 2,4-and terminal α- d-galactopyranosyl bearing side chains has been tentatively assigned. The preliminary study in the murine model showed some significant in vivo Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell growth inhibition.