A method has been developed to give topography of glycyrrhiza polysaccharides by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that glycyrrhiza polysaccharides mainly consist of glucose, arabi-nose, galactose, but the conclusions about the main chains are different. Aqueous solutions of the polysac-charides are deposited as drops onto Ni^2＋ mica surfaces, air dried, and ethanol fixed, and then stable and reproducible images were captured. Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides have a multi-branched structure and a variety of different linkages between adjacent monosaccharides, which compose the small rings and the helical structure. From the images, glycyrrhiza polysaccharides form ordered multiple helical structure. The phenomenon may be related to van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bond of polysaccharide chains.

Key words: atomic force microscopy, glycyrrhiza polysaccharide, helical structure