THE ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN IMMUNOMODULATORY AND ANTITUMOR POLYSACCHARIDE PREPARATION FROM FLAMMULINA VELUTIPES

Alkaline-soluble antitumor polysaccharide was prepared from the cell w all of the mushroom Flammulina velutipes. The backbone(s) of the polys accharide is mainly composed of beta-(1-->,3)-D-linked glucose and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 200 kD. The polysaccharide was found to be non-toxic by brine shrimp assay. When injected into m ice intraperitoneally, the polysaccharide triggered proliferation of s plenic lymphocytes and also vascular dilation and hemorrhage (VDH) res ponse. The polysaccharide exhibited potent anti-tumor activity against sarcoma SC-180 in vivo but not in vitro.