Chemical properties and adjuvant activity of a galactoglucomannan from Acrocomia aculeata

A galactoglucomannan (GGM) with an estimated weight-average molar mass of 3.5 × 105 was obtained from an aqueous extract of the mesocarp of fruits of Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. by fractionation by Sephacryl S-300 HR and Sephadex G-25. Chemical and spectroscopic studies indicated that GGM has a main chain of (1 → 4)-linked β-d-mannopyranosyl residues attached to an initial chain of (1 → 3)-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl residues and a terminal chain of (1 → 4)-linked α-d-glucopyranosyl residues which comprised galactose, glucose and mannose in the molar ratio of 18:22:60. The adjuvant potential of the polysaccharide on the cellular immune response against ovalbumin antigen was investigated using in vivo assays.