Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Water Extractable Polysaccharides from Leaves of Plantago major L.

Abstract

Background:Plantago major L. leaves have been used for centuries by the traditional medicine in the treatment of infectious disorders of the respiratory, urinary and digestive tracts. Researchers have reported that hot water extracts of Plantago major possess a broad-spectrum of anticancer, antioxidant and antiviral activities, as well as activities which modulate cell-mediated immunity. Their beneficial properties may be due to the significant content of polysaccharides. The polysaccharides that have been isolated from the leaves of Plantago major L. have different structures – pectic substances, galactans, arabinogalactans, glucomannans.

Keywords

• Plantago major L.
• polysaccharides
• enzymatic hydrolysis
• hemicellulase
• mannanase