A polysaccharide–peptide complex from cultured mycelia of the mushroom Tricholoma mongolicum with immunoenhancing and antitumor activities

Abstract

A polysaccharide–peptide complex with immunoenhancing and antitumor activities was obtained from the mycelial culture of Tricholoma mongolicum, an edible mushroom found in Northern China. The polysaccharide–peptide complex had a molecular mass of 15.5 kDa, as estimated by gel filtration, and a carbohydrate–protein ratio of about 8:1 and was not adsorbed on DEAE – Sepharose CL-6B. It possessed the activities of activating macrophages, stimulating macrophage antigen-presenting activity, which in turn enhanced proliferation of T-cells, and inhibiting the growth of sarcoma 180 cells that had been implanted in mice.Key words: Tricholoma mongolicum, immunoenhancing activity, antitumor activity, polysaccharide–peptide complex.