The polysaccharide from gum asafoetida contains D-galactose, I>-arabinose, L-rhamnose, 4-O-methyl-~-glucuro11ic acid, and D-glucuronic acid. I t is a highly branched polyn~er which contains a backbone of D-galactopyranose residues which are very probably n~aiilly 1,3-Plinked.The side chains consist of residues of L-arabiiiofuranose, ~-g a l a~t~p y r a l l o~e , D-glucuronic acid, and its 4-0-methyl ether.