[Composition and property characterization of Rhizoma Dioscoreae polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex].
OBJECTIVE
To characterize properties of Rhizoma Dioscoreae polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex (RDPC) and analyze its composition.


METHODS
Physicochemical properties, such as character, solubility and stability of RDPC were studied. Surface structure of RDPC was studied by Infrared spectroscopic technique and transmission electron microscopy. The content of Fe (III) in RDPC was determined by o-phenanthroline spectrophotometry after being treated by ashing, wet digestion, or direct dissolution methods. Content of polysaccharide in RDPC was determined by sulphuric acid-phenol method.


RESULTS
RDPC was brownish red powder. It could dissolve in water, its aqueous solution was very stable at the pH from 3.8 to 11.6. RDPC was a surface complex in which polysaccharide combined with beta-FeOOH as core. The content of Fe (III) in RDPC was 17.05%, 16.53%, 17.10% respectively after being treated by 3 different pretreatment methods. Content of polysaccharide in RDPC was 16.27%.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of RDPC which was stable under physiological pH conditions and could be a new candidate for iron-supplementary.
Li
Ming-jing
MJ
Key Lab of Natural Drug and Immune Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
Yang
Jing
J
Wang
Ning
N
Wang
Yong
Y
Liu
Xiu-hua
XH
D027743:Dioscoreaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011134:Polysaccharides; D007501:Iron