title: Characterization of a neutral polysaccharide having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the rhizome of Curcuma longa.
abstract: A neutral polysaccharide, named ukonan D, was isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. It produced a single band on electrophoresis and a single peak on gel chromatography, and its molecular mass was estimated to be 28,000. It showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. Ukonan D is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: D-glucose: D-mannose in the molar ratio of 1:1:12:0.2, in addition to small amounts of peptide moiety. Methylation analysis, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and enzymic degradation studies indicated that its structural features include mainly both alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan type and alpha-4,6-branched D-glucan type structural units. The influence of degradation with alpha-amylase followed by the elimination of glucan side chains on its immunological activity was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomoda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides