A POLYSACCHARIDE FRACTION OF ZIZYPHI-FRUCTUS IN AUGMENTING NATURAL-KILLER ACTIVITY BY ORAL-ADMINISTRATION

Shosaiko-to (Xiao-chai-hu-tang, SHO), a Kampo medicine, was prepared b y decocting a prescription of 7 kinds of crude drugs, namely Bupleuri Radix, Pinelliae Tuber, Scutellariae Radix, Zizyphi Fructus, Ginseng R adix, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Zingiberis Rhizoma, Previously, we report ed that the effect of the orally administered SHO in augmenting natura l killer (NK) activity in the peripheral blood nas attributed to the a cidic polysaccharide fraction. To characterize the active components i n the crude materials in SHO, the effects of extracts and various frac tions were investigated by oral administration, The extracts of Zizyph i Fructus, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Pinelliae Tuber augmented NK activity by oral administration, The high weight molecular fraction of Zizyphi Fructus was the most effecti ve in augmenting Mi activity, Thus, Ive obtained an active polysacchar ide fraction from the high weight molecular fraction of Zizyphi Fructu s, This polysaccharide fraction with a high molecular rr eight of appr oximately 43000 contained 54.7% carbohydrate, 61.8% uronic acid and 20 .9% protein. The sugar moiety was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xyl ose, fucose, mannose, galactose, glucose and galacturonic acrid in mol ar ratios of 28:59:11:9:7:32:20:100.