Abstract: The total polysaccharide content, monosaccharide component and structure of three factions of polysaccharides from corn spermoderm, CSPA-1, CSPA-2 and CSPB, were measured through the ultraviolet-visible spectrogram, paper chromatography and polarimetric analysis testing in this preliminary study. CSPA-1, CSPA-2 and CSPB all were white powder, and CSPB was only slightly soluble in water, while CSPA-1and CSPA-2 completely soluble. They all were insoluble in high concentrations of organic solvent and did not contain any protein or starch but glucuronic acid. Total polysaccharide content of CSPA-1 was 99.3%, and glucuronic acid content 16.6%. The monosaccharide unit of CSPA-1 was identified as glucose, xylose and arabinose, and possibly rhamnos. Total polysaccharide content of CSPA-2 was 93.4%, and glucuronic acid was 21.7%. The monosaccharide unit of CSPA-2 was identified as glucose, xylose, arabinose and rhamnose. Total polysaccharide content of CSPB was 83.3%, with glucuronic acid being 6.82%. The monosaccharide unit of CSPB was identified as glucose, xylose, and arabinose. Periodate oxidation analysis showed that CSPA-1 had 1 → 2 linked or 1 → 4 linked (25%) and 1 → 6 linked (3%); CSPA-2 was 1 → 2 linked or 1→4 linked (25.7%) and 1→6 linked (3%); CSPB was 1→2 linked or 1→4 linked (34.1%) and 1→6 linked (1%).

Key words: corn spermoderm, polysaccharide, monosaccharide, structure