A reticuloendothelial system-activating glycan from the barks ofEucommia ulmoides

From the hot water extract of the barks ofEucommia ulmoides, a glycan, named eucomman B, has been isolated by treatment with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide followed by fractionation on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 columns. Chemical and spectroscopic studies established that the glycan possesses mainly α-1,2-linkedl-rhamno-α-1,4-linkedd-galacturonan structure. α-1,5-Linkedl-arabinofuranose, α-1,3-linkedl-arabinopyranose, β-1,3- and β-1,4-linkedd-galactose, 2,4-branchedl-rhamnose and 3,4-branchedd-galacturonic acid residues were also identified as the component sugar units. The glycan showed significant reticuloendothelial system potentiating activity in the carbon clearance test.