Verfahren zur Herstellung antikarzinogener Stoffe

摘要

A polysaccharide having anti-cancer activity is a solid, water-soluble, amorphous substance which is non-hygroscopic, and non-dialysable; has an acetyl derivative of formula (C30H40O20)n and is hydrolysable by heating with N-sulphuric acid to cerabinose, galactose and xylose in a molecular ratio of 1:1:1, and a small amount of uronic acid. The polysaccharide and its acetyl derivative give the infra-red absorption spectra shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively (not shown). The polysaccharide or material containing it may be prepared by extracting the leaves and/or stems of Gramineae, e.g. bamboo or bamboo grass, with hot water e.g. at 60-100 DEG C. An alkaline substance may be added during extraction to maintain the extract neutral. The extract may then be purified to give the polysaccharide by acidifying to pH 3-4, removing the precipitate so formed and subjecting the acidified solution to one or more steps of dialysis, salting out, treatment with ion-exchange resin and treatment with lead acetate. The polysaccharide or material containing it may also be obtained by diluting molasses with water, acidifying the solution to pH 3-4, removing the precipitate so formed and subjecting the acidified solution to dialysis and/or salting out to produce a polysaccharide-containing material and then, if desired, purifying the solution to give the polysaccharide. The polysaccharide or derivatives thereof are incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions (Division A5).ALSO:Pharmaceutical compositions having anti-cancer activity comprise a carrier and, as active ingredient, a polysaccharide which is hydrolysable by N sulphuric acid to xylose, arabinose, galactose (molar ratio 1:1:1) and a small amount of uronic acid, gives infra red absorption spectra as in Fig. 1 (not shown), and yields an acetyl derivative of formula (C30 H40 O20)n which gives infra-red absorption spectra as in Fig 2 (not shown). The polysaccharide may be extracted from Graminase or from molasses. The composition may be made up in the form of tablet, pill, powder, sachet or encapsulated powder for oral administration or in the form of a steril injectable solution or suspension for parentral administration.