Planta Med 1996; 62(4): 297-302
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957888
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Characterization and Cytokine Stimulating Activities of Heteroglycans from Tremella fuciformis

Qi-pin Gao1 , Rui-zhi Jiang2 , Hui-qun Chen2 , Einar Jensen1 , Rolf Seljelid1
  • 1Department of Experimental Pathology, IMB, University of Tromsø, Breivika, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
  • 2Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Materia medica of jilin Province, No. 17 Gongnong Road, Changchun, 130021, China
Further Information

Publication History

1995

1996

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Three heteroglycans, T1a, T1b, and T1c, have been isolated from the body of Tremella fuciformis Berk. They are composed of mannose (Man), xylose (Xyl), glucose (Glc), fucose (Fuc), and glucuronic acid (GlcA). According to methylation analysis and partial acidic hydrolysis the main chains of T1a, T1b, and T1c consisted of (1→3)-linked Man, which was branched at the 2,4, or 6 positions. The branching points were linked with non-reducing terminal GlcA-residues or (1→6)-linked glucan-chains.Molecular weights of the three heteroglycans are 53,000, 18,000, and 12,000 D respectively, but they undergo self-aggregation in water. T1a-T1c induce human monocytes to produce interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in vitro. Acidic hydrolysate fractions of T1a (T1a-1, 2, 3, 4, 5) with a molecular weight from 53,000 to 1,000 D, also in duce human monocytes to produce IL-6 as efficient as T1a.