International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2002, Volume4

Issue 3

94 pages

Issue price - $128.00

Vladimir Elisashvili
Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Academy of Science of Georgia, 10 km Agmashenebeli kheivani, 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia

Solomon P. Wasser
International Centre for Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel; and N.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

Kok- Kheng Tan
MycoBiotech Pte Ltd 12 Science Park Drive # 04-01 The Mendel- Singapore Science Park 1 118 225, Singapore

Tremellastin, containing 40-45% acidic polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan, was obtained by alcohol precipitation of culture broth after submerged cultivation of a yeastlike budding haploid strain of Tremella mesenterica. Tremellastin at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 500 tng/kg by P.O. administration during 15 consecutive days did not demonstrate hypoglycemic effects on the basis of the two selected experimental models of glucose-loading and STZ-induced hyperglycemia. However, the findings show a statistically significant and dose-dependent reduction of intrinsic blood glucose levels after 15 treatment days, as well as significantly decreased triglyceride levels in the glucose-loading-assigned Tremellastin-treatment groups. It was shown that the Tremellastin preparation appeared to be an active interferonogen at the concentration 10 mg/animal. At the same concentration this compound was the most efficient activator of oxygen-dependent biocide activity of macrophages. The activation of the oxygen-dependent macrophage biocide activity was associated with the induction of endogenous interferon by Tremellastin.

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