Bioactive polysaccharides from Costus spicatus

Three polysaccharides, glucans with mean Mrʹs of 7.50×105, 4.25×105 and 2.15×105, were isolated from fresh stems of Costus spicatus by fractionation on Sephacryl S-300 HR and Sephadex G-25. Chemical and spectroscopic studies indicated that they have a highly branched glucan type structure composed of α-(1→4) linked d-glucopyranose residues with (1→3), (1→6) branching points, and a small amount of (1→6) branching to α-(1→3) linked d-glucopyranose residues. The polysaccharides inhibit capillary permeability and demonstrate phagocytosis stimulating properties.