Synthesis and anti‐HIV activity of sulfated astragalus polysaccharide

Abstract

Abstract Sulfated astragalus polysaccharide (sulfated astragalan, SA) was prepared by chemical modification of astragalus polysaccharide abstracted from an astragalus menbranceus used as a Mongolia herbal medicine. Anti‐HIV activity of SA was assayed in vitro and the results indicated that the SA showing high anti‐HIV activity and lower cytotoxity. Sulfation of astragalan was carried out by using sulfur trioxide‐pyridine complex in a mixture of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to give sulfated astragalan with degree of substitution (DS) of 1.14–1.20 and a number average molecular weight ( M n ) of 1.27–1.46 × 10 4 . Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.