A reticuloendothelial system activating glycan from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa

From the hot water extract of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, a glycan, named ukonan A, has been isolated by fractionation on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 followed by chromatography on Con A-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-300 columns. Chemical and spectroscopic studies established that the glycan possesses an α-l-arabino-3,6-β-d-galactan structure. α-1,3-Linked l-arabinopyranose, β-3,4-branched d-xylose, α-1,4-linked d-glucose, α-2,4-branched l-rhamnose and α-1,4-linked d-galacturonic acid residues were also identified as the component sugar units. The glycan showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system potentiating activity in the carbon clearance test.