| abstract |
A new immunopotentiating agent is now provided, which is useful for enhancing the immune response in living animals, including man, against the bacterial and fungan infections and also against the growth of tumors, and which comprises as active ingredient a water-soluble chitin-oligomer selected from di-N-acetyl-chitobiose, tri-N-acetyl-chitotriose, tetra-N-acetyl-chitotetraose, penta-N-acetyl-chitopentaose, hexa-N-acetyl-chitohexaose and hepta-N-acetyl-chitoheptaose, or a water-soluble chitosan-oligomer selected from chitobiose, chitotriose, chitotetraose, chitopentaose, chitohexaose and chitoheptaose. An immunopotentiating method using said water-soluble chitin-oligomer or said water-soluble chitosan-oligomer as the active ingredient is also provided. |