Date of Award

12-1980

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Dragon's Blood, a red resinous secretion from the fruits of Daemonorops species, has long been used in Southeast Asia as an astringent in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, and dentifrices. A water-soluble heteropolysaccharide was isolated from this material by 1) extraction with benzene in a Soxhlet apparatus, 2) refluxing the extracted residue with water, 3) concentration of the aqueous extract by flash evaporation, 4) precipitation of the polysaccharide by 70% ethyl alcohol, and 5) purification by DEAE cellulose chromatography. Alditol Acetate derivatives of the sugar components from the hydrolyzed polysaccharide were analyzed Gas Liquid Chromatography. The polysaccharide contained arabinose, xylose, 4-0-methyl-glucuronic acid, galactose, and glucose.

The above polysaccharide was found to accelerate the recalcified plasma time at lower concentration (up to 0.05mg) while inhibiting it a higher concentration (0.5-2.0mg). The anticoagulant effect of the polysaccharide was mainly on the final stage of the coagulation sequence, which involves the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. The purified polysaccharide did not interfere with the in vitro Thrombin action on human fibrinogen, as shown by the normal release of fibrinopeptides A and B. However, the polysaccharide formed a complex with fibrinogen and was affecting the reaggregation of the fibrin monomers, which may be responsible for delaying normal coagulation.

Publisher

Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College

Date of Digitization

10/27/2025

Contributing Institution

J. B . Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF


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