CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL ACIDIC POLYSACCHARIDE WITH IMMUNOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES FROM THE RHIZOME OF CNIDIUM-OFFICINALE

An acidic polysaccharide, called cnidirhan SIIB, was isolated from the rhizome of Cnidium officinale MAKINO. It was homogeneous on electroph oresis and gel chromatography, and its molecular mass was estimated to be 7.9 x 10(4). It was composed of L-arabinose, D-galactose and D-gal acturonic acid in the molar ratio of 9:11:3, in addition to a few O-ac etyl groups. Reduction of carboxyl groups, methylation analysis, nucle ar magnetic resonance and controlled Smith degradation studies indicat ed that its structural features are composed primarily of alpha-L-arab ino-beta-3,6- and 3,4-branched D-galactan type units. The polysacchari de showed very pronounced reticuloendothelial system-potentiating acti vity in a carbon clearance test and marked anti-complementary activity .