Component Analysis and Free Radicals Scavenging Activity of Cicer arietinum L. Husk Pectin

A pectin (CAP) was extracted from the husk of Cicer arietinum L..
Monosaccharide analysis of CAP revealed the dominance of galacturonic acid and smaller
amounts of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucose, xylose and mannose. Viscosimetric
analysis showed that the intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and the molecular weight (MW) of CAP
were 296 mL/g and 105 kDa, respectively. The degree of esterification (DE = 10%) was
determined by FTIR spectroscopy. CAP exhibited a dose-dependent free radical
scavenging activity, as shown by its DPPH radical inhibition. At 1.0 mg/mL CAP exhibited
a scavenging rate of 29% on DPPH radicals. The evaluation of antioxidant activity
suggested that CAP had good potential for DPPH radical scavenging activity and should be
explored as a novel potential antioxidant.