Colorimetric assay for bioactive polysaccharide

摘要

An assay for the qualitative and quantitative determination of a bioactive polysaccharide, such as acemannan, in a product, such as an aloe vera-containing product. The method uses a complexing agent to react with the bioactive polysaccharide present, if any, in the product to give a color change. The detected color change is compared with standard color changes generated by reacting the complexing agent with different known amounts of the bioactive polysaccharide, wherein differences between the color changes compared are dependent upon the presence or amount of the bioactive polysaccharide in the product. The assay can be confirmed by detecting a second color change of a different aliquot of the product with a different complexing agent.