Synthesis and antitumor activities of glucan derivatives

A highly efficient and practical method for the preparation of beta-D-Glc-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Glc-(1-->3)]-beta-D-Glc-(1-->6)-beta-D-Glc-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Glc-(1-->3)]-D-Glc-OMe was described. A dendritic nonasaccharide was also synthesized. The antitumor activities of hexasaccharide, the dendrimer, their sulfated derivatives, together with the natural glucan-protein and the corresponding polysaccharide isolated from barmy mycelium of Grifola frondosa, were preliminarily investigated based on Sarcoma-180 studies in mice tests. Our results suggest that the sulfated branching oligosaccharide and natural glycoprotein have better antitumor activities comparing to the parent sugar residue (oligosaccharide or polysaccharide). (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.