Effects ofLentinus Edodes, Grifola FrondosaandPleurotus OstreatusAdministration on Cancer Outbreak, and Activities of Macrophages and Lymphocytes in Mice Treated with a Carcinogen, N-Butyl-N-Butanolnitrosoamine

Abstract

ICR mice were treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N'-butanolnitrosoamine BBN), every day for 8 consecutive weeks and the effects of oral administration of edible mushrooms on the induction of urinary bladder carcinoma and on the activities of macrophages and lymphocytes were studied. Bladder carcinoma were found in all 10 mice (100%) treated with BBN alone, while we observed carcinoma only in 9 of 17 mice (52.9%), in 7 of 15 mice (46.7%) and 13 of 20 mice (65.0%) treated with Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa and Pleurotus ostreatus, respectively. Chemotactic activity of macrophages was suppressed in mice treated with BBN alone but maintained almost the normal level in mice treated with BBN plus Lentinus, Grifola or Pleurotus. Lymphocytes collected from mice treated with BBN plus each mushroom showed almost normal blastogenic response against concanavalin A, although those from mice treated with BBN alone completely retarded their response. Cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes against Yac-1 cells was also maintained at a normal level in mice treated with BBN plus each mushroom. Whereas in mice treated with BBN alone significant depression of NK cell activity occurred. Significantly higher cytotoxic activity against P-815 cells was observed in lymphocytes from mice treated with BBN plus each mushroom than that in lymphocytes from normal mice or mice treated with BBN alone.

Effect of SCG, 1,3-&beta;-<small>D</small>-Glucan from <i>Sparassis crispa</i> on the Hematopoietic Response in Cyclophosphamide Induced Leukopenic Mice

“…It is believed that b-glucans show various immunomodulating activity with low toxicity both in experimental animals and in the clinic. [24][25][26][27][28] In the present study, we showed an enhanced hematopoietic response in CY-induced leukopenic mice both from a qualitative as well as quantitative point of view. The data shown here might give an additional proof of efficacy of b-glucan as a candidate for these medical treatments.…”

Effectiveness of Immunotherapies from Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus species) in the Management of Immunocompromised Patients

“…β-glucans are not synthesized by humans, so these compounds are recognized as non-self-molecules, inducing both innate and adaptive immune responses [83]. They appear to activate phagocytes, thus leading to elimination of pathogens by phagocytosis [84,85]. Among these, the macrophages preferentially attack dead cells and intracellular pathogens [86].…”

“…Many β-glucans stimulate macrophages to produce cytokines, local immunomodulators, and these in turn activate adaptive immunity [85,88,89], which can then stimulate the activity of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10 andIL-12 ( Figure 2) [90,91].…”

Anti-cancer effect of polysaccharides isolated from higher basidiomycetes mushrooms

“…Grifola frondosa (also known as Maitake) have strong antitumor activity in xenographs (Kurashiga et al, 1997) and there have also been limited number of clinical trials. More recently, a highly purified extract, β-glucan (B-1,6 glucan branched with a β 1-3-linkage) (Grifron-D, GD) has become available.…”