THE COMPOSITION OF FLAXSEED MUCILAGE

Abstract

Flaxseed mucilage contains d-galacturonic acid, I-rhamnose, I-galactose, and d-xylose. On partial hydrolysis it yields an aldobionic acid in which the d-galacturonic acid is attached by a 1: 2 linkage to I-rhamnose (l-7). Neville (2) prepared the mucilage in yields as high as 6.3 per cent. He described it as a white powder with [a]i5 = +10.79", giving by alkaline titration an equivalent weight of 710. He reported that the ash contained calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. Tipson, Christman, and Levene (6) found that when the viscous mucilaginous solution is heated for a short time in a boiling 1 per cent solution of hydrochloric acid the viscosity decreases greatly and the solution can be filtered rapidly through cloth. They prepared the ash-free mucilage by this procedure.