Multiple fingerprinting and chromatography-immunoreactivity relationship of polysaccharides from Dioscorea opposite Thunb

The quality evaluation of Dioscorea opposite Thunb. mainly focuses on determining water-soluble contents. Polysaccharides are now recognized as the significant constituents of yam with activities such as immune enhancement, and it is necessary to use polysaccharides as an indicator for quality control of yam in this study. Sixty batches of yam polysaccharides were obtained by conventional hot water extraction and analysis for their physicochemical properties and structure. The results showed the functional groups (four shared peaks including 3500-3300 cm^-1) and molecular weights (2.06 × 10³ Da-2.28 × 10³ Da). The PMP-HPLC fingerprints calibrated 5 familiar peaks, and the relative retention times of each characteristic peak to the Glc peak (S peak) were 0.47 (Man), 0.86 (GalA), 1.00 (Glc), 1.13 (Gal), 1.24 (Ara), Glc and Gal, which were the main differentiated monosaccharide components in the HPLC fingerprinting of YPs. This study provided a preliminary data reference for quality control of YPs.