CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL HETEROGLUCAN FROM THE RHIZOME OF CNIDIUM-OFFICINALE EXHIBITING HIGH RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM-POTENTIATING ANDATNICOMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES

A novel beta-heteroglucan, called cnidirhan SIIA, was isolated from th e rhizome of Cnidium officinale MAKINO. It was homogeneous on electrop horesis and gel chromatography, and its molecular mass was more than 1 X 10(7). It was composed of D-glucose, D-galactose and L-arabinose in the molar ratio of 85: 5: 8, in addition to small numbers of O-acetyl groups. Methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance studies i ndicated its main structural features composed of beta-1,6-linked D-gl ucopyranosyl residues with both 3,6- and 4,6-branching points. In addi tion, it has both beta-1,4-linked L-arabinopyranosyl and beta-1,6-link ed D-galactopyranosyl residues. The polysaccharide showed very pronoun ced reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clear ance test, as well as a marked anti-complementary activity.