THE CORE STRUCTURE OF GINSENAN PA, A PHAGOCYTOSIS-ACTIVATING POLYSACCHARIDE FROM THE ROOT OF PANAX-GINSENG

Controlled Smith degradation and limited hydrolysis of ginsenan PA. th e main phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide isolated from the root o f Panax ginseng C.A. MEYER, were performed. The reticuloendothelial sy stem-potentiating and anti-complementary activities of the degradation products were investigated, Methylation analysis of the primary and s econdary Smith degradation products indicated that the core structural features of ginsenan PA include a backbone chain mainly composed of b eta-1,3-linked D-galactose. Almost half of the galactose units in the backbone carry side-chains composed of beta-1,6-linked D-galactosyl re sidues at position 6. Further 3,6-branching of D-galactose units was o bserved in a part of the side-chains. alpha-L-Arabinose units are conn ected mainly to the core galactose moieties via position 6. Removal of most of the arabinose units had a considerable effect on immunologica l activity.