A Glucan Having Reticuloendothelial System-Potentiating and Anti-complementary Activities from the Tuber of Pinellia ternata

Abstract

A glucan, called pinellian G, was isolated from the tuber of Pinellia ternata BREIT. It was homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography, and its molecular mass was westimated to be 1.5×10⁴. It is composed solely of D-glucose, in addition to a few O-acetyl groups. Methylation analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance and enzymic degradation studies indicated that it is a branched glucan mainly composed of α-1, 4-linked D-glucopyranose residues with partially α-1, 3-linked units and 4, 6-branching points. The glucan showed significant reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test, as well as pronounced anti-complementary activity.