Purification and characterization of a new fructan series from species of Asteraceae.

A new fructan series, in addition to inulin, was identified in tissue extracts of Cichorium intybus L., Helianthus tuberosus L. and Taraxarum officinale Weber. The second fructan series was separated from the inulin series up to degree of polymerization (DP) 18 by ion chromatography. The DP 4 of this new fructan scries was purified and structurally analysed. Hydrolysis and methylation analysis of the DP 4 oligomer shows that this is a fructan series that contains only β-2,1-linked fructose molecules. We conclude that this new fructan series in species of Asteraceae comprises the inulo-n-ose series and probably consists of products of inulin hydrolysis that are formed during inulin mobilization.