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Planta Med 2002; 68(7): 610-614
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32904
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Orally Administered β-1,6-D-Polyglucose Extracted from Agaricus blazei Results in Tumor Regression in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Ko-ichi Oshiman1 , Yoshiaki Fujimiya1, 2, 3 , Takusaburo Ebina4 , Ikukatsu Suzuki5 , Masahide Noji5
  • 1Division of Biotechnology, Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
  • 2Department of Basic Medical Sciences, IOND University, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  • 3R&D Department, NIMURA GENETIC SOLUTIONS, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  • 4Division of Immunology, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Medeshima-Shiode, Natori, Miyagi, Japan
  • 5Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received: September 20, 2001

Accepted: February 24, 2002

Publication Date:
22 July 2002 (online)

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Abstract

There is an increasing demand from both patients and practicing oncologists for orally formulated chemotherapy. The present study focused on the oral formulation for natural products that may be effectively used in oncologic treatment regimens. Tumor-bearing mice treated with intratumoral administration of aqueous ammonium oxalate-soluble and ethanol-insoluble derivatives of Agaricus blazei showed marked tumor regression at doses ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 mg (p < 0.05 vs. saline control; n = 7). However, oral administration of this same fraction, either prior to, simultaneously with, or after, tumor cell inoculation did not result in tumor regression (p > 0.05 vs. control). When this fraction was treated with hydrochloric acid (acid-treated fraction; ATF), intratumoral administration resulted in a marked regression of tumor growth comparable to that of the acid-untreated fraction. More importantly, parenteral administration of ATF resulted in a significantly greater regression of tumor growth than that produced by the untreated fraction (p < 0.05 vs. untreated; n = 7). When a total of 4.5 mg of ATF was given orally at varying schedules prior to, simultaneously with, or after, tumor inoculation, a significant regression was seen using a schedule starting 4 days prior to inoculation (p < 0.05 vs. all other treatments; n = 7). NMR and molecular analyses showed that the ATF fraction had a molcular weight of approximately 10 kDa and consisted mainly of only (1,6)-β-D-polyglucose. These results suggest that the oral administration of simple acid-treated ATF results in a remarkable tumor regression. Thus, simple acid hydrolysis of natural products may not only bring measurable benefits in oncological practice, but may also be a useful general formulation for natural products for oral chemotherapy.

Key words

Agaricus blazei - Basidiomycetes - (1,6)-β-D-polyglucose - ATF - oral chemotherapy - Meth-A tumor cell

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Dr. Yoshiaki Fujimiya

Department of Research & Development

Nimura Genetic Solutions

2-10-2-2F


Sendagaya

Shibuya-ku

Tokyo 151-0051

Japan

Email: yfujimiya@hotmail.com

Fax: +81-3-5772-5883

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