title: Tumoricidal effects of beta-glucans: mechanisms include both antioxidant activity plus enhanced systemic and topical immunity.
abstract: A study to evaluate the mechanisms of tumoricidal activity resulting from orally administered extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (A. blazei) was performed in mice bearing syngeneic and xenogeneic tumors. Tumor regression was comparably seen in both syngeneic and xenogeneic tumor-bearing mice when administered oral extract preparations. In addition, in a murine syngeneic tumor model, oral administration of water-soluble extracts of A. blazei resulted in significant production of cytokines such as IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha in peritoneal exudate cells, in parallel with the marked regression of tumor development. The water-soluble extracts also induced pronounced antioxidant activity in in vitro and in vivo assays using two different methods. These results indicate the A. blazei extract may enhance not only the immnunomodulatory effects that promote activity of peritoneal exudate cells for tumor regression but also potentially result in the direct destruction of tumor cells through its antioxidant activity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Yeunhwa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujimiya
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itokawa
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Jung-Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Torao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000364:Agaricus / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013997:Time Factors; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D047071:beta-Glucans