Antitumor activity of beta-D-glucan from Libyan dates.

Beta-glucan with antitumor activities was isolated from Libyan dates, and the structure of the purified glucan was characterized using methods such as methylation, periodate oxidation, and acetolysis. Glucans were found to exhibit potent antitumor activity; this activity could be correlated to their (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan linkages. Such antitumor glucans have also been obtained from a number of other sources, such as yeast, fungi, bacteria, and plants. This is the first study to report antitumor activity for date glucan.