With the rise in cancer cases, finding medical alternatives with fewer side effects has become crucial. In this study, novel glucans and glycans from the mycelia and fruit body of Pleurotus ostreatus were compared for their potential as immune-boosting agents. These glucans demonstrated significant immune functions, such as promoting the proliferation of lymphocytes, activating macrophages (including the production of nitric oxide, generation of reactive oxygen species, phagocytosis, and production of TNF-α), and enhancing the cytotoxicity mediated by macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells.
In vivo studies using mice with Dalton’s Lymphoma tumors further highlighted the immune-enhancing and tumor-reducing properties of these glucans. The results showed that tumor inhibition rates reached approximately 75% and 71.4% when treated with 20 mg/kg of glucans from the mycelia and fruit body, respectively. Additionally, the survival period of the mice treated with these glucans was significantly extended, primarily due to the enhanced immune response and the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Both types of glucans elicited a similar level of immune response systemically, with only minor differences observed in two-dimensional in vitro cultures.
The findings suggest that these glucans could be effective immunomodulators, potentially strengthening the immune system when used alongside other therapies.
Devi KS, Behera B, Mishra D, and Maiti TK. Immune augmentation and Dalton’s Lymphoma tumor inhibition by glucans/glycans isolated from the mycelia and fruit body of Pleurotus ostreatus. Int Immunopharmacol. 2015;25(1):207-217.
