Pilot study: Tumor suppressive effect of crude polysaccharide substances extracted from some selected mushroom

摘要

A number of bioactive molecules, including antitumor substances, have been identified in many mushroom species. Polysaccharides are the best known and most potent mushroom derived substances with antitumor and immunomodulating properties. The present study is a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the role of these polysaccharide substances as antitumor agents using EAC cell line in animal mice. Five mushroom species were used as a source of these polysaccharide substances. These arePleurotus pulmonarius,Pleurotus sajar caju,Pleurotussp.Ganoderma applanatumandVolvariella speciosa. An extremely significant reduction of the tumor volumes in tumor bearing mice treated with most of these substances was noticed compared with those saline-treated tumor-bearing mice. This reduction in tumor volume was accompanied with a significant reduction in both liver DNA and RNA in addition to an increase in total lipids and proteins. A significant increase in serum superoxide dismutase activity and a highly significant decrease in each of the serum alkaline phosphatase, GPT and GOT in addition to MDA. On the other hand, there was an elevation in albumin concentration after treatment the groups of tumor-bearing mice with the polysaccharide substances compared with those saline-treated tumor-bearing mice. The results showed that the administration of these polysaccharide via the prophylactic treatment don't rule out its role in the antitumor effect by these substances. However, the other mode of treatment i.e. treatment by polysaccharide after tumor injection showed better results in this respect. This means that not only these polysaccharides cure but have also important prophylactic properties. The presence of β-glucan in these polysaccharides was confirmed by FT-IR analysis.