Purification and characterization of anti-complementary polysaccharide from leaves of Thymus vulgaris L.

For the purification of the anti-complementary polysaccharide from Thymus vulgaris L., the hot-water extract of thyme leaves was successively fractionated by ethanol precipitation and ultra-filtration. The retentate with 300-kDa membrane cartridge showed a potent anti-complementary activity. It was further purified by open column chromatographies on DEAE-Toyopearl 650C, Butyl-Toyopearl 650M and Sephadex G-100, obtaining TV3-IIA-I, the purified anti-complementary polysaccharide. The anti-complementary polysaccharide exhibited the anti-complementary activity via both classical and alternative pathways. Based upon the methylation analysis and the reaction with beta-glucosyl Yariv reagent, the anti-complementary polysaccharide from thyme might contain an arabinogalactan moiety, at least in part.