title: Effect of polysaccharide-peptide (PSP), an extract from yun-zhi, on chemotherapy-induced cytopenias.
abstract: Polysaccharide-peptide (PSP) is a protein-bound complex carbohydrate derived from mycelia extract of Chinese fungus coriolus versicolor, or better known as Yun-Zhi. It has been shown to inhibit growth of cultured tumour cells, and it prevents cytotoxic-induced bone marrow suppression. An animal study was conducted with 24 Wistar rats to verify the myeloprotective effect of PSP. The rats were divided into two equal groups: group A (given cyclophosphamide [CTX]) and group B (given PSP and CTX). The body weights were similar in both groups of rats. In phase 1, all rats were given intravenous CTX 75 mg/kg. In addition, B rats received PSP 20 mg/day orally from 7 days before CTX to 14 days after CTX. Phase 2 was carried out two weeks after full recovery from CTX-induced cytopenia. The CTX was decreased to 60 mg/kg, and the group B rats received an increased dose of PSP 1.2 g/day for the same 21 days. In both phases, the CTX was well tolerated. Nadir white blood cell count was reached on day 4 and all counts recovered by day 10. There was no difference in absolute neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts between groups A and B. We concluded that oral PSP did not prevent CTX-induced cytopenia in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: L Q
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ang
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D011509:Proteoglycans; C093216:polysaccharide peptide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide