EFFECTS OF CORIOLUS-VERSICOLOR POLYSACCHARIDES ON SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITIES IN MICE

AIM: To study if Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides (CVP) influence t he superoxide dismutase !SOD) activities in mice. METHODS: Normal, tum or-bearing, and radiated ICR mice were injected ip with CVP daily for 3 - 15 d. The SOD activity was assayed by epinephrine autoxidation tes t. RESULTS: The SOD activities in lymphocytes and thymus were increase d by CVP in both the normal mice with or without delayed hypersensitiv ity (DH). In tumor-bearing mice, CVP exerted not only inhibitory effec ts on tumor, growth and SOD activity in tumor tissue but also complete or partial restorative effects on the suppressed DH and on the declin ed SOD activities in lymphocytes, spleen, and thymus, The total SOD an d manganese-containing SOD (MnSOD) activities in lymphocytes and thymu s were dose-dependently enhanced by CVP (5-20 mg . kg(-1)) on d 3 afte r the tumor transplantation. In the mice exposed to Co-60 (3 or 6 Gy), DH and SOD activities were dose-dependently decreased. These changes were completely or partly prevented by CVP. CONCLUSION: CVP exerted th e favorable effects on SOD activities in mice.