Structural elucidation and antitumor activity of a fructan from Cyathula officinalis Kuan Original Research Article

A fructan named CoPS3 was isolated from Cyathula officinalis Kuan. The structure of CoPS3 was determined by methylation, by the reductive–cleavage method combined with GC–MS analysis, and both 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. These results show that CoPS3 is a graminans-type fructan that is comprised of a β-d-fructofuranosyl backbone having residues linked (2→1)- and (2→6) with branches and an α-d-glucopyranose residue on the nonreducing end of the fructan chain. Each branch is terminated by a β-d-Fruf residue. Bioassay showed that it could inhibit growth of Lewis pulmonary carcinoma implanted in mice.