title: Immunomodulating compounds in Basidiomycetes.
abstract: Mushrooms are distinguished as important food containing immunomodulating and anticancer agents. These compounds belong mostly to polysaccharides especially β-d-glucans. Among them, β-1,3-glucan with side chain β-1,6-glucose residues have more important roles in immunomodulating and antitumor activities. In this review, we have introduced polysaccharide mainly from Lentinula edodes and Agaricus blazei Murill with immunomodulating and antitumor activities. In addition, the mechanism of activation of immune response and signal cascade are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishitani
keywords: Basidiomycetes; antitumor activity; immunomodulating activity; polysaccharide; β-glucan