Polysaccharides and antiviral drug containing polysaccharides as active ingredient.

摘要

A polysaccharide produced from a procaryotic or eucaryotic organism and useful as an antiviral agent, especially an antiretroviral agenct, has the following properties: (a) (i) positive results when subjected to the alpha -naphthol-sulfuric acid, indole-sulfuric acid, anthrone-sulfuric acid or phenol-sulfuric acid reaction, or (ii) positive results when subjected to the alpha -naphthol-sulfuric acid, indole-sulfuric acid, anthrone-sulfuric acid or phenol-sulfuric acid reaction and, after hydrochloric acid hydrolysis, to the Lowry-Folin process or ninhydrin reaction; (b) elementary analysis: 20-55% carbon, 3-9% hydrogen and less than 16% nitrogen; (c) a pH of 6.0-7.5; (d) an infrared absorption spectrum peak at (i) 3600-3200 cm<-><1> or (ii) 3600-3200 cm<-><1> and 1700-1600 cm<-><1>; (e) a molecular weight of from 10<3> to 3 x 10<6> as measured by gel filtration chromatography; and (f) soluble in water and aqueous solvents containing water-soluble alcohols, acids or bases and insoluble in chloroform, benzene and ether. 0