International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

For Online Access

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2002, Volume4

Issue 3

94 pages

Issue price - $128.00

Masaji Sawai
Takara Agri Co., Ltd., 2257 Noji, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan

Yoshiyuki Adachi
Laboratory of Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan

Manabu Kanai
Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392;Japan

Susumu Matsui
Takara Agri Co., Ltd., 2257 Noji, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan

Toshiro Yadomae
Laboratory of Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan

(1®3)-b-glucan content in extracts from various edible mushrooms was measured by using a (l®-6)-branched (1®3)-b-glucan-specific enzyme immune system. Comparing (1®3)-b-glucan content in hot water extracts or cold alkaline extracts of each edible mushroom, it was shown that Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. contained higher levels of (1®3)-b-glucan than any of the other mushrooms. Cold alkaline extract possessed the highest amount of (1®3)-b-glucans. Interestingly, a cold alkaline extract from premixed dried powder of the mushrooms showed a higher level of (1®3)-b-glucan following calculation as sonifilan than the theoretical total amount of each (1®3)-b-glucan extract from each constituent mushroom from which premixed dried powder was prepared. Considering the specificity of this enzyme immunoassay as previously reported, it is suggested that premixed extraction contains Conformationally stable (1®3)-b-glucans. Antitumor activity of these mushroom extracts was also tested using a murine experimental model. All of the extracts showed higher antitumor activity and the effectiveness on inhibition of tumor growth in sold form was almost equal. Activation of macrophages by co-cultivation with the various extracts was induced with the premixed extract significantly higher. Induction of interferon-y was also enhanced by administration of the premixed extract. The premix extract showed modulating effect on glucocorticoid release induced by restraint stress. These results suggest that the mixture of mushroom extracts may provide physicochemically stable (1®3)-b-glucans and physiologically active products. A complementary effect of each mushroom component on enhancing immunological function would be expected by the mixed extraction.

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