Contribution to the study of Himatanthus sucuuba: latex macromolecule, microelements and carbohydrates

Abstract

The polymeric material in the latex of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson was identified by spectroscopic methods as cis-polyisoprene (Mn = 192; Mw = 571; Mw/ Mn = 2.97). ICP-MS analysis of microelements in the aqueous phase showed the most abundant to be Ca (354 μg/g) and Mg (250 μg/g). Carbohydrate analysis of the aqueous phase by HPLC-PAD showed arabinose, glucose, xylose, rhamnose and galactose to be the predominant saccharides.

Keywords

• Apocynaceae
• Himatanthus
• latex
• cis-polyisoprene
• microelements
• carbohydrates