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We conducted screening on Chinese medicinal herbs to examine their anti-complementary activity by hemolytic complementary assay (TCH_(50)). Among 55 kinds of herbs, several herbs showed relatively potent anti-complementary activity which decreased TCH_(50), more than 70% in comparison with control. Then, hot water extracts of the following herbs, Curcuma aromatica, Areca catechu, Gleditsiae spina, Euonymus alata, Acanthopanctz senticous. Lonicera japonica, Aconitum carmichaeli, Curcuma zedoaria and Cinnamoum cassia, which were shown relatively potent anti-complementary activity were partially purified and analyzed their chemical properties. These activities were resistant to digestion with pronase but decreased by treatment with NaIO₄. These results may indicate that the complement activating ability in their herbs is due to polysaccharide. Furthermore, the anti-complementary activity of Areca catechu which was showed the most potent activity, was reduced partially in the absence of the Ca^(++) ion. After incubation of the normal human serum with partially purified polysaccharide of A. catechu in the absence of Ca^(++) ion, a cleavage of C3 in the serum was found to have occurred through immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit anti-human C3 serum. These results indicate that the mode of complement activation by polysaccharide of A. catechu is via both the alternative and classical pathway (Received November 30, 1991, accepted February 8, 1992).
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