Medicinal mushrooms as a source of antitumor and immunomodulating polysaccharides

The number of mushrooms on Earth is estimated at 140,000, yet maybe only 10% (approximately 14,000 named species) are known. Mushrooms comprise a vast and yet largely untapped source of powerful new pharmaceutical products. In particular, and most importantly for modern medicine, they represent an unlimited source of polysaccharides with antitumor and immunostimulating properties. Many, if not all, Basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in fruit bodies, cultured mycelium, culture broth. Data on mushroom polysaccharides have been collected from 651 species and 7 infraspecific taxa from 182 genera of higher Hetero- and Homobasidiomycetes. These polysaccharides are of different chemical composition, with most belonging to the group of beta-glucans; these have beta-(1-->3) linkages in the main chain of the glucan and additional beta-(1-->6) branch points that are needed for their antitumor action. High molecular weight glucans appear to be more effective than those of low molecular weight. Chemical modification is often carried out to improve the antitumor activity of polysaccharides and their clinical qualities (mostly water solubility). The main procedures used for chemical improvement are: Smith degradation (oxydo-reducto-hydrolysis), formolysis, and carboxymethylation. Most of the clinical evidence for antitumor activity comes from the commercial polysaccharides lentinan, PSK (krestin), and schizophyllan, but polysaccharides of some other promising medicinal mushroom species also show good results. Their activity is especially beneficial in clinics when used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Mushroom polysaccharides prevent oncogenesis, show direct antitumor activity against various allogeneic and syngeneic tumors, and prevent tumor metastasis. Polysaccharides from mushrooms do not attack cancer cells directly, but produce their antitumor effects by activating different immune responses in the host. The antitumor action of polysaccharides requires an intact T-cell component; their activity is mediated through a thymus-dependent immune mechanism. Practical application is dependent not only on biological properties, but also on biotechnological availability. The present review analyzes the pecularities of polysaccharides derived from fruiting bodies and cultured mycelium (the two main methods of biotechnological production today) in selected examples of medicinal mushrooms.     

Current findings,future trends,and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms

The target of the present review is to draw attention to many critically important unsolved problems in the future development of medicinal mushroom science in the twenty-first century. Special attention is paid to mushroom polysaccharides. Many, if not all, higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in fruit bodies, cultured mycelium, and cultured broth. The data on mushroom polysaccharides are summarized for approximately 700 species of higher Hetero- and Homobasidiomycetes. The chemical structure of polysaccharides and its connection to antitumor activity, including possible ways of chemical modification, experimental testing and clinical use of antitumor or immunostimulating polysaccharides, and possible mechanisms of their biological action, are discussed. Numerous bioactive polysaccharides or polysaccharide–protein complexes from medicinal mushrooms are described that appear to enhance innate and cell-mediated immune responses and exhibit antitumor activities in animals and humans. Stimulation of host immune defense systems by bioactive polymers from medicinal mushrooms has significant effects on the maturation, differentiation, and proliferation of many kinds of immune cells in the host. Many of these mushroom polymers were reported previously to have immunotherapeutic properties by facilitating growth inhibition and destruction of tumor cells. While the mechanism of their antitumor actions is still not completely understood, stimulation and modulation of key host immune responses by these mushroom polymers appears central. Particularly and most importantly for modern medicine are polysaccharides with antitumor and immunostimulating properties. Several of the mushroom polysaccharide compounds have proceeded through phases I, II, and III clinical trials and are used extensively and successfully in Asia to treat various cancers and other diseases. A total of 126 medicinal functions are thought to be produced by medicinal mushrooms and fungi including antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardiovascular, antihypercholesterolemia, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, detoxification, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects.     

木耳硒多糖的分离纯化及对腹水型S_(180)细胞膜流动性的影响

应用DEAE52-cellulose、SephacrylS-500HR柱层析从自培养的富硒木耳中分离纯化得到4种木耳硒多糖,SeAPⅠ-1、SeAPⅠ-2、SeAPⅡ和SeAPⅢ,紫外扫描显示在280nm和260nm均无吸收,表明不含蛋白质和氨基酸;高效凝胶渗透色谱为单一对称峰,表明4种硒多糖均为均一多糖。对S180细胞膜的游离脂肪酸和膜脂流动性的研究显示,4种硒多糖具有较好的活性,且SeAPⅠ-2、SeAPⅡ的活性显著强于SeAPⅠ-1、SeAPⅢ(p0.05)。     

Biological activity of Brassica rapa L. polysaccharides on RAW264.7 macrophages and on tumor cells

Polysaccharides are a type of natural macromolecule widely existing in nature, and its pharmacological activity has attracted wide research attention. In this study, Brassica rapa L. polysaccharides were taken as the research object, and a preliminary study of the immune activity and mechanism of the antitumor activity of these polysaccharides in vitro was carried out. Five polysaccharides, namely, BRP, BRNP-1, BRNP-2, BRAP-1, and BRAP-2, were compared in terms of their ability to inhibit the growth of three types of cancer cells, namely, A549, AGS, and HepG2. The most effective polysaccharides were screened out, and their mechanism was studied. Immunoassay results showed that the five polysaccharides not only promoted the growth of RAW264.7 cells but also stimulated their endocytic/pinocytosis activity and released NO, TNF, IL-6 cytokines, especially BRP. In vitro antitumor experiments showed that BRP has a significant inhibitory effect (*P < 0.05) on the growth of A549 cells, especially at high concentrations (500–2000 μg/mL). BRP can also induce A549 cells to release reactive oxygen species, cause mitochondrial membrane potential, and effect the expression of Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3, p53, and B-cell lymphoma 2. Immunological experiments showed that the five groups of polysaccharides are not cytotoxic to normal cells and have immunostimulatory effects. Mitochondria represent one of the more important endogenous pathways in the apoptotic process. The results suggested that BRP participates in mitochondria mediated apoptosis and induces A549 cell apoptosis. This study lays a theoretical foundation for further research on the mechanisms of BRP immunoregulation and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.     

Antitumor activity of sulfated extracellular polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum from the submerged fermentation broth

Water-soluble extracellular polysaccharides are known to possess weak or no in vitro antitumor activity. In this experiment, a mixture of extracellular Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) from the submerged fermentation broth was sulfated and studied on their antitumor activity. The sulfated GLP performed significant inhibition on the proliferation of assayed carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, and present a degree of substitution-dependent suppressing to HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, the sulfated GLP presented remarkable but not dose-dependent inhibition on Heps hepatona in mice. With same degree of substitution, the sulfation protocol with aminosulfonic acid-pyridine yielded GLP sulfates with higher activity on HepG2 cells. In comparison, the native GLP showed no or little antitumor activity on the assayed cell lines but remarkable inhibition on suppressing the proliferation of rat Heps. The highest in vivo inhibition rate of 55.5% provided by sulfated GLP was observed on suppressing the proliferation of rat Heps.     

Stimulation of TNF-alpha release by fungal cell wall polysaccharides

Carboxymethylated derivatives were prepared from the (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan isolated from the cell wall of baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and from the chitin-glucan complex of the mycelium of the industrial filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. The polysaccharides were applied to peritoneal mouse macrophages and after a 2-h incubation the release of TNF-alpha by the stimulated macrophages was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As the third polysaccharide stimulant, a water-soluble derivative of chitin was assayed and the observed cytokine release was compared with the control experiment. In three concentrations of the polysaccharides applied, carboxymethyl glucan revealed a dramatic increase in the TNF-alpha release, while addition of carboxymethyl chitin-glucan resulted only in a moderate enhancement, and carboxymethyl chitin was inactive. The results indicate that fungal polysaccharides, especially (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, are potent macrophage stimulators and activators of TNF-alpha release, which implies their potential application in antitumor therapy.     

Preparation,structural characterization and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> antitumor activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">kappa</Emphasis>-carrageenan oligosaccharide fraction from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kappaphycus striatum</Emphasis>

Oligosaccharides were prepared through mild hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of kappa-carrageenan from Kappaphycus striatum to compare the antitumor activity with carrageenan polysaccharides. Oligosaccharide fractions were isolated by gel permeation chromatography and the structure of fraction 1 (F1) was studied by using negative-ion electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectrometry. The in vitro antitumor effects in three human neoplastic cell lines (KB, BGC, and Hela) of polysaccharides and F1 were investigated. The bioassay results showed that F1 exhibited relatively higher antitumor activity against the three cancer cells than polysaccharides.     

Chemical structural and chain conformational characterization of some bioactive polysaccharides isolated from natural sources

Some polysaccharides isolated from natural sources show various important biological activities, such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects, which are strongly affected by their chemical structures and chain conformations. This article attempts to review the current development on structural and conformational characterization of some importantly bioactive polysaccharides isolated from natural sources. The chemical structures were analyzed by FTIR, liquid-state NMR (one and two dimensions), solid-sate NMR, Raman spectroscopy, gas chromatography (GC), GC–Mass (GC–MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The chain conformations of polysaccharides in solutions were investigated using static and dynamic light scattering, viscosity analysis based on the theory of dilute polymer solution, circular dichroism analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) including single molecular AFM and AFM-based single-molecule force spectroscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy.     

石斛属植物抗肿瘤活性成分及其机制研究进展

石斛属(Dendrobium)是兰科植物中的第二大属,很多石斛属植物是传统的名贵药用植物,具有良好的抗肿瘤作用。近年来石斛属植物抗肿瘤研究取得了显著进展,该文对石斛属植物的抗肿瘤主要活性成分、提取方法以及抗肿瘤机制等方面进行了归纳。石斛属植物抗肿瘤主要活性成分有多糖、生物碱、菲类、联苄类、芴酮类化合物等,抗肿瘤作用机制主要有增强机体免疫力、抑制癌细胞增殖、促进癌细胞凋亡、调控或阻滞癌细胞周期、抗氧化和清除自由基、改变信号通路传导等。在此基础上,进一步提出加强对石斛属植物抗癌方面的深入研究,挖掘更多的石斛属药用资源及其特征成分,深入解析它们的抗肿瘤作用机制,建立全面的评价体系,为开发石斛属植物抗癌药物提供理论基础,为合理、有效地利用石斛属资源提供科学依据。     

药用昆虫多糖的研究进展

中医以昆虫入药,在两千多年里积累了丰富的临床经验。近年来,随着天然药物研究技术不断的发展,昆虫多糖的生物学活性被不断发现,人们对于药用昆虫多糖的研究也越来越广泛和深入。本综述通过查阅近年来有关药用昆虫多糖的资料文献,从提取分离、结构研究、药理活性三个方面总结、分析了近年来有关药用昆虫多糖的研究成果,希望可以为相关研究人员提供借鉴。目前,昆虫多糖提取分离的方法包括水提醇沉法、碱液提取法和酶解法。尽管药用昆虫多糖的结构研究报道较少,但已发现,昆虫多糖的结构比植物多糖和真菌多糖更复杂,大多为蛋白聚糖,组成的单糖种类较多。昆虫多糖具有多种药理活性,在免疫调节、抗氧化、抗肿瘤、抗血栓及抗过敏等方面作用突出。     

Basil polysaccharides: A review on extraction,bioactivities and pharmacological applications

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been widely used in China and is regarded as the most commonly used treatment. As a natural plant used in traditional Chinese Medicine, Basil has various functions associated with a number of its components. There are many compositions in basil including polysaccharides, naphtha, steroids, flavone, coumarins, vitamins, and so on. Among these, polysaccharides play a significant role in based therapeutics. The article summarizes that basil polysaccharides have a lot of biological activities and pharmacological applications, such as their antitumor activity, antioxidant activity, anti-aging activity, immunity enhancement effect, hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects, antibacterial effect, treatment of diabetes mellitus, and so on. This review summarized the extraction method, purification method, compositions, pharmacological applications, molecular weight, biological activities, and prospects of basil polysaccharides, providing a basis for further study of basil and basil polysaccharides.     

真菌多糖抗肿瘤及免疫调节作用研究进展

真菌多糖被认为是目前最有开发前途的保健食品和药品的新资源之一,对真菌多糖的生物活性研究也是保健食品功能因子中最为炽热的研究热点。本文综述了近年来国内外真菌多糖抗肿瘤及免疫调节作用的研究进展。     

海藻多糖生物活性及分子修饰

简要介绍了近年来有关海藻多糖抗病毒、抗肿瘤、免疫促进、免疫抑制等生理活性的最新研究 ,重点介绍了不同种类海藻多糖的不同生理活性机理的研究进展。对多糖与生理活性之间的构效关系进行了阐述 ,在构效关系基础上进行多糖分子结构修饰是提高海藻多糖生理活性、降低毒副作用的有效手段。进一步介绍了目前多糖分子修饰常用方法 ,并对修饰后分子的生理活性改变进行了阐述。     

Preparation and the antitumor activity in vitro of polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake

Tricholoma matsutake is the most valuable mushroom exhibiting a characteristic and delicate flavor as well as several biological activities among the various mushroom species. Extraction procedure and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake mycelium were studied in this work. Single factor tests and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on a three-level three-factor Box-Behnken design were applied to optimize the water extraction conditions. The polysaccharides yields increased when the ratio of water to sample increased from 10:1 to 30:1, extraction time from 1 to 4 h and temperature from 60 to 90°C as invested in single factor tests. To enhance further polysaccharides extraction, the extraction conditions were studied with RSM. The optimum extraction conditions were confirmed as follows:extraction time 4.3 h, the ratio of water to sample 29.2:1, extraction temperature 93.8°C. The extraction rate of polysaccharides under this condition could reach the highest value of 18.43% with one time extraction, and, 21.63% with two times extraction. Furthermore, the polysaccharides presented significant antitumor activity against B16 human melanoma cells in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. At the concentration of 10 mg/ml, the inhibition rate of polysaccharides got 67%.     

Isolation and characterization of polysaccharides with the antitumor activity from Tuber fruiting bodies and fermentation system

Fifty-two polysaccharides were isolated from the fermentation systems of Tuber melanosporum, Tuber indicum, Tuber sinense, Tuber aestivum and the fruiting bodies of Tuber indicum, Tuber himalayense, Tuber sinense by elution with an activated carbon column. Polysaccharides from Tuber fermentation system exhibited relatively higher in vitro antitumor activity against HepG2, A549, HCT-116, SK-BR-3, and HL-60 cells than those from Tuber fruiting bodies. All polysaccharides were mainly composed of d-mannose, d-glucose, and d-galactose, which suggested that the polysaccharides from Tuber fruiting bodies and fermentation system have identical chemical compositions. The results of antitumor activity and structural identification indicated that the polysaccharide fractions could promote antitumor activity. Tuber polysaccharides from Tuber fermentation system exhibited relatively higher than that from Tuber fruiting bodies. These results confirm the potential of Tuber fermentation mycelia for use as an alternative resource for its fruiting bodies.     

The polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum: Are they always inhibitors on human hepatocarcinoma cells?

The antitumor activity of intracellular polysaccharides from submerged fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated focusing on the inhibition on human liver cancer cells. The polysaccharides inhibited human hepatocarcinoma cell HepG2 during earlier phase with lower dosage but obviously became less functional in later phase regardless of the dosage applied. However, apoptosis of the drugged HepG2 cells appeared in later incubation phase with high dosage, and the apoptosis could be enhanced by supplemental dose of the intracellular polysaccharides. Nevertheless, the intracellular polysaccharides inhibited other human hepatocarcinoma cells such as BEL-7402 and Huh-7 but luckily stimulated human normal liver cell L02 only in a positive dose- and time-dependent manner; so did the sulfated extracellular polysaccharides when it inhibited HepG2 and L02 cells. However, the toxicity of sulfated extracellular polysaccharides to L02 cells can be eliminated by the intracellular polysaccharides.     

Anti-tumor polysaccharides from mushrooms during storage

The changes in the contents of an anti-tumor polysaccharide from Lentinus edodes (lentinan) and Grifolafrondosa (GGF) during storage were investigated using by an ELISA inhibition assay. When the mushrooms were stored at low temperature, the contents of their anti-tumor polysaccharides show hardly any changes, but their contents decreased markedly at higher temperature (20 degrees C). Moreover, the effect of the extract from Lentinus edodes stored at different temperatures on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) productions from macrophages was investigated to confirm the influence to the stimulation of macrophages. Because lentinan stimulates macrophages to augment their antitumor activity. Their productions showed little difference between Lentinus edodes stored at low temperature and the fresh mushroom, although the cytokine production decreased significantly in Lentinus edodes stored at 20d egrees C. These results suggest that low-temperature storage is more effective in maintaining not only the quality of the mushrooms but also the contents of anti-tumor polysaccharides as health-beneficient foods.     

Immunomodulation and antitumor activities of different-molecular-weight polysaccharides from Porphyridium cruentum

The extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) isolated from Porphyridium cruentum were degraded by hermetical-microwave and H₂O₂ under ultrasonic waves. Six products were obtained with molecular weights of 6.53, 256, 606, 802.6, 903.3 and 1002 kDa. The antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of different-molecular-weight (MW) polysaccharides were evaluated by the S180-tumor-bearing mouse model in vivo and peritoneal macrophage activation in vitro. The degraded EPSs all showed clear immunomodulation to different extents. The MW of the EPSs had a notable effect on their activity. The 6.53-kDa fragment had the strongest immunoenhancing activity. Different doses of EPS all inhibited the growth of the implanted S180 tumor. The tumor inhibition index at high, middle and low doses was 53.3%, 47.5% and 40.5%, respectively. In addition, three different concentrations of EPS significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation, which indicated the unique mechanism of the antitumor effect of EPS.     

响应面法优化地衣Umbilicaria muehlenbergii多糖提取工艺及其体外活性研究

研究石耳属地衣Umbilicaria muehlenbergii多糖的提取工艺及其体外抗氧化、抗肿瘤能力.在单因素试验基础上,通过Box-Behnken design(BBD)和响应面分析法优化得出热水浸提法提取U.muehlenbergii多糖的最佳工艺条件.通过测定地衣多糖对1,1-二苯基-2-苦肼基自由基(1,1...