A water-soluble glucan, EPS, from the roots of Podophyllum emodi Wall var. chinense spraque was obtained homogeneous as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. EPS was only composed of D-glucose, and its mean molecular weight was estimated to be 1.6×10^4. Methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, KI-I~2 reaction, IR, ^1H NMR and ^1^3C NMR showed that it is α(1→4) linked α-D-glucan to which are attached glucosyl side chains at 6-O of the glucosyl residues of the main chain.

Key words: CHEMICAL STRUCTURE, GLUCAN