RESUMO
The wide biological and therapeutic applications of Asteraceae family motivated our attention to search on plant related to this family in our local flora. So, Sonchus oleraceus L was the chosen plant. The monomeric composition of the partially and completely hydrolysates ofS. oleraceus L. herb crude polysaccharide complex was determined using GC/MS analysis. The obtained results revealed the presence of mannose, xylose, arabinose, glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid. To determine the polymeric composition of the polysaccharide complex, different methods of fractionation were used. Demineralization was done first, then saponification. The demineralized glycan was chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose column, Elution being monitored spectrophotometrically using phenol-sulphuric acid reagent. The result revealed that the demineralized glycan composed of I major polymer. Both acidic and neutral monomers of the partially hydrolysed fractions were subjected to silylation and GC/MS analysis which provide qualitative and quantitative determination of the monomeric composition of each fraction. The polysaccharide complex was an acidic heterogenous polysaccharide. The crude glycan of S. oleraceus L. herb showed significant anti-inflammatory effect and powerful hepatoprotective action against CCl[4] induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Further investigation of hepatoprotective effect of demineralized, fraction I and fraction II glycans were done and the results were compared with that of the crude glycan. All of these glycans had powerful hepatoprotective action against CC l[4] induced hepatotoxicity. Fraction I glycan [containing glucuronic acid] had the highest hepatoprotective activity