Structural and immunological studies of a pectin and a pectic arabinogalactan from Vernonia kotschyana Sch. Bip. ex Walp. (Asteraceae)

Both the pectin and pectic arabinogalactan induced chemotaxis on human macrophages, T cells and NK cells. Only the pectic arabinogalactan showed high-complement fixation activity and T cell independent induction of B cell proliferation. exo-β-d-galactanase and exo-α-l-arabinofuranosidase digestion did not change the complement fixation activity.