Method of isolating mucilaginous polysaccharides and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of isolating mucilaginous polysaccharides from plants, cereals, cell cultures, or fungi such as mushrooms known to have mucilaginous or protein-bound polysaccharides with desirable biological properties. The mucilaginous polysaccharides present in aqueous solution or tissue extracts are treated with tannins to form a complex which is then separated from the solution. The complex is then treated one or more times with either solvents or other substances in solution to remove the bounded tannins from the complex thereby and releasing the isolated polysaccharide. The polysaccharides prepared according to the present method retain properties that are substantially similar to those of the native polysaccharide as it is found in the respective plant or cell. The polysaccharides thus prepared are used in a variety of products. This process is particularly suitable for isolating acetylated mannose polymers from aloe plants and beta glucans.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.