Preliminary characteristics of non-starch polysaccharide from chayote (Sechium edule)

Abstract

Chayote is rich in non-starch polysaccharides. The physicochemical properties of non-starch polysaccharide from chayote were not study extensively. In the present research, non-starch polysaccharide of chayote (CP-CHE) extracted by conventional heating extraction method was obtained, and the preliminary physicochemical and functional properties of CP-CHE had been carried out. The results indicated that the CP-CHE was rich in galactan, glucoses and galacturonic acid. Also, CP-CHE had the negatively charged, a wide distribution of molecular weight and particle size. Additionally, CP-CHE solutions had shear thinned fluid property when the concentrations between 1% to 4%. The results of this study would be beneficial to the application of CP-CHE in food and improve the economic value of chayote.