title: [Polysaccharides of flower plants: structure and physiological activity].
abstract: The results of studies on the chemical structure and physiological activity of phanerogam polysaccharides, accumulated within the last two decades, are reviewed. Three types of polysaccharides are considered: rhamnogalacturonans (pectins and related gums and mucilages, type A), acidic arabinogalactans (mainly plant mucilages, gums, and some hemicelluloses, type B), and neutral glucans and heteroglycans (reserve polysaccharides, type C). Various physiological activities of these plant polysaccharides are discussed, with particular emphasis being placed on their immunomodulatory action. The data available on the relationship between chemical structure and physiological activity of plant polysaccharides are considered. Information on the medicinal use of some plants containing physiologically active polysaccharides is presented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Komi Research Center, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia. ovoys@iph.komi.ru
authors.forename: Iu S
authors.initials: IuS
authors.lastname: Ovodov
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides