Plant cell wall fractionation and structural analysis.

The structure of the major plant polysaccharides contributing to dietary fiber, their organization within the plant cell wall, and the problems associated with their analysis are briefly reviewed. Alkaline, acidic, and detergent fractionation methods are described and considered in relation to their specificity. The analysis of pectin, often ignored as a component of dietary fiber, is examined in detail. The solubility of pectins from a number of common plant foods was determined, indicating that a considerable portion of pectin polyuronide is lost to many of the commonly used analytical procedures.