title: Structural features of a new heteropolysaccharide from the fruit bodies of Melia azedarach and its effect on cytotoxic activity.
abstract: Water-soluble polysaccharides were extracted from the fruit pulps of Melia azedarach and some columns were undertaken to isolate the major polysaccharide (MPS-III). Its structural features were elucidated by IR analysis, carbohydrate analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Then it was evaluated for the cytotoxic activity in vitro against four human cell lines, using the sulphorhodamine B assay. The data obtained indicated that MPS-III contains a alpha(1-->4) main chain backbone composed of arabinose, mannose in a molar ratio of 1.31:1.0 and has alpha(1-->6) branch structure. And MPS-III showed a strong cytotoxic activity in the BGC-823 cell line.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Institute of Biological Technology, Zhejiang Forestry Academy, 310023 Hangzhou, China. kite006@163.com
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jun-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xue-Qian
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xian-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D031586:Melia azedarach / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C544785:MPS-III compound; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides