Anti-tumour and immuno-stimulating activities of the fruiting bodies of Paecilomyces japonica, a new type of Cordyceps spp.
The anti-tumor and immuno-stimulating activities of the fruiting bodies of Paecilomyces japonica (PJ), grown on silk-worm larvae and of Cordyceps sinensis (CS), a wild form of Cordyceps Fungi, were investigated. Ethanol extracts of both fungi, when administered for 9 consecutive days, at 50 and 100 mg/kg i.p., caused a significant increase in life span and a significant decrease in tumor weights and volumes, in mice inoculated with Sarcoma-180 tumor cells. Both fungal extracts were demonstrated to exhibit phagocytosis enhancing activity as measured by carbon clearance in mice. PJ extracts, when administered i.p. at 50 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days, exhibited a significant enhancement of phagocytosis, its potency as expressed by the regression coefficient ratio, RCtr/RCc, being 1.64 (the phagocytosis index = 2). This was approximately the same for that of zymosan (RCtr/RCc = 1.55, PI = 2), a typical phagocytosis enhancer, whereas CS extracts exhibited a moderate phagocytosis enhancing activity at the same dose level (RCtr/RCc = 1.30, PI = 1). Both fungal extracts caused a significant increase in an acid phosphatase activity, representing lysosomal enzymes, in macrophages at 20 and 100 micro g/ml in vitro, in compliance with in vivo results. These results suggest that the anti-tumor activity of both fungi might be related to an immuno-stimulating function.
Shin
Kuk Hyun
KH
Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. khshin@snu.ac.kr
Lim
Soon Sung
SS
Lee
Sanghyun
S
Lee
Yeon Sil
YS
Jung
Sang Hoon
SH
Cho
Sae Yun
SY
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005638:Fruit; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010143:Paecilomyces; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000517:prevention & control; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002244:Carbon