Objective: To characterize properties of Rhizoma Dioscoreae polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex (RDPC) and analyze its composition.
Method: Physicochemical properties, such as character, solubility and stability of RDPC were studied. Surface structure of RDPC was studied by Infrared spectroscopic technique and transmission electron microscopy. The content of Fe (III) in RDPC was determined by o-phenanthroline spectrophotometry after being treated by ashing, wet digestion, or direct dissolution methods. Content of polysaccharide in RDPC was determined by sulphuric acid-phenol method.
Result: RDPC was brownish red powder. It could dissolve in water, its aqueous solution was very stable at the pH from 3.8 to 11.6. RDPC was a surface complex in which polysaccharide combined with beta-FeOOH as core. The content of Fe (III) in RDPC was 17.05%, 16.53%, 17.10% respectively after being treated by 3 different pretreatment methods. Content of polysaccharide in RDPC was 16.27%.
Conclusion: This is the first report of RDPC which was stable under physiological pH conditions and could be a new candidate for iron-supplementary.