title: Immunologically active (1-->3)-(1-->4)-alpha-D-glucan from Cetraria islandica.
abstract: A polysaccharide, Ci-3, resembling isolichenan except with a much higher degree of polymerization, has been isolated from the water extract, as well as from the alkali extract, of the lichen Cetraria islandica (L.) using ethanol fractionation, dialysis, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The mean M(r) of Ci-3 was determined to be 2000 kD, compared to 6-8 kD reported for isolichenan. The structure of Ci-3 was elucidated and found to be composed of (1-->3)- and (1-->4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl units in the ratio of 2:1, using methanolysis, methylation analysis, optical rotation and NMR spectroscopy. The immunomodulating activity of Ci-3 was tested in an in vitro phagocytosis assay and anti-complementary, and proved to be active in both tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. elinsol@rhi.hi.is
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Olafsdottir
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ingolfsdottir
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barsett
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jurcic
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005936:Glucans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol; D008745:Methylation; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C119131:(1-3)-(1-4)-glucan; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002241:Carbohydrates; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D000432:Methanol