Antitumor Activity and Hematopoietic Response of a b-Glucan Extracted from an Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Sparassis crispa Wulf.: Fr. (Aphyllophoromycetideae)

Abstract

Sparassis crispa Wulf.: Fr. is an edible and medicinal mushroom recently cultivated in Japan. It contains a high content (~ 40%) of 6-branched 1,3-b-D-glucan showing antitumor activity. Oral administration of the (b-glucan fraction CA1, extracted with cold sodium hydroxide, enhanced the hematopoietic response in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced leukopenic mice assessed by white blood cell count. Analyzing the leukocyte population by flow cytometry, the rate of leukocyte recovery in CY-administered mice was different in each population, such as granulocyte, monocyte, natural killer cell, В cell, Т cell, and so on. Administration of CA1 modulated the recovery rate of each population. In Peyer's patches, recovery of the T/B ratio was faster than in the control group. In in vitro, CY-treated spleen cell culture, interleukin-6 and interferon-g production was enhanced by CA1 treatment. These facts strongly suggested that the enhanced hematopoietic response by CA1 is due to enhanced cytokine production.