Xylans biological activity

Xylan sulphates, known also as pentosan polysulphates (PPS), are permanently studied with regard to their biological activities [3,419-422]. Usually, sulphuric acid, sulphur trioxide, or chlorsulphonic acid are employed as sul-phating agents alone or in combination with alcohols, amines or chlorinated hydrocarbons as reaction media [423]. 

These products exhibited a wide variety of biological activities ranging from very specific, particularly when utilizing synthetic alcohol-containing reactants such as poly(vinyl alcohol), to very broad ranging, particularly when employing natural alcohol-containing reactants such as sucrose, dextran, cellulose, and xylan (see, e.g.. Refs. 39, 40). 

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