The Noble Dendrobium, Dendrobium nobile, is a member of the family Orchidaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name shí hú. This orchid is one of the most widespread ornamental members of the family. There are many different created varieties which bloom in different colors - yellow, white, etc. The plant is native to southern Asia.
Four sesquiterpene glycosides with alloaromadendrane, emmotin, and picrotoxane type aglycones were identified from stems of Dendrobiumnobile Lindl (Orchidaceae). The four sesquiterpene glycosides were found to possess immunomodulatory activity.
Dendrobium nobile is a sympodial orchid which forms pseudobulbs. A water-soluble polysaccharide DNP-W2 composed of glucose, mannose, and galactose in the molar ratio of 6.1:2.9:2.0 had been isolated from the stems of Dendrobiumnobile. Its molecular weight was 1.8 × 104 Da determined by HPGPC.