Characterization of two acidic polysaccharides having immunological activities from the root of panax ginseng

Masashi Tomoda, Kenji Takeda, Noriko Shimizu, Ryōko Gonda, Naoko Ōhara, Katsutoshi Takada, Keiko Hirabayashi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two acidic polysaccharides, named ginsenan PA and ginsenan PB, were isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER. They were homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography, and their molecular masses were estimated to be 1.6×105 and 5.5×104, respectively. They are composed of L-arabinose : D-galactose : L-rhamnose : D-galacturonic acid : D-glucuronic acid in the molar ratios of 11 : 22 : 1 : 6 : 1 (ginsenan PA) and 3 : 7 : 2 : 8 : 1 (ginsenan PB), in addition to small amounts of O-acetyl groups. Almost all (ginsenan PA) and part (ginsenan PB) of the hexuronic acid residues exist as methyl esters. Reduction of carboxyl groups, methylation analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance and periodate oxidation studies indicated that their structural features include mainly both α-arabino-β-3, 6-galactan type and rhamnogalacturonan type structural units. Both polysaccharides showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test, pronounced anti-complementary activity and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activity in a dose dependent manner.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22-25
Number of pages4
JournalBiological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1993

Keywords

  • Panax ginseng
  • acidic arabinogalactan
  • ginsenan PA
  • ginsenan PB
  • immunological activity
  • polysaccharide structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science

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