Antitumor activity of Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharide fractions on Ehrlich tumor and Sarcoma 180.

The medicinal properties of fungi of the genus Pleurotus have attracted great interest due to their therapeutic properties. Polysaccharides synthesized by Pleurotus, including the ß-glucans are considered the main responsible for its therapeutic properties. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of polysaccharidic fractions extracted from mycelial biomass of Pleurotus ostreatus DSM 1833 in inhibiting the development of Ehrlich Tumor (ET) and Sarcoma 180 (S-180). FC, FI and FII fractions provided 60.6, 76.5 and 73.6% of ET inhibition, respectively (mean value of about 70%) while FS, FIII-1 and FIII-2 showed no inhibition against ET. FII and FIII-2 resulted in 85.6 and 93.6% (mean value of about 90%) while FIII-1, FC and FS resulted in 54.1 and 0%, respectively, of S-180 inhibition. The yields of the fractions FS, FI, FII, FIII-1 and FIII-2 obtained from P. ostreatus mycelial biomass were 11.6, 1.3, 0.4, 0.65 and 0.35%, respectively. FII fraction (30mg/kg) apparently had no toxic effect on healthy animals, since no difference between the body weights of animals in substance control (SC) and negative control (NC) groups was observed.

Extracellular polysaccharide production by a strain of Pleurotus djamor isolated in the south of Brazil and antitumor activity on Sarcoma 180

Polysaccharides with medicinal properties can be obtained from fruiting bodies, mycelium and culture broth of several fungus species. This work was carried out in batch culture using a stirred tank reactor with two different initial glucose concentrations (40-50 g/L) and pH values (3.0-4.0) to enhance extracellular polysaccharides production by Pleurotus djamor UNIVILLE 001 and evaluate antitumor effect of intraperitonial administration of Pleurotus djamor extract on sarcoma 180 animal model. According to factorial design, the low pH value (pH 3.0) led to a gain of 1.6 g/L on the extracellular polysaccharide concentration, while glucose concentration in the tested range had no significant effect on the concentration of polysaccharide. With 40 g/L initial glucose concentration and pH 3.0, it was observed that yield factor of extracellular polysaccharide on substrate (Y P/S = 0.072) and maximum extracellular polysaccharide productivity (Q Pmax = 11.26 mg/L.h) were about 188% and 321% respectively higher than those obtained in the experiment performed at pH 4.0. Under these conditions, the highest values of the yield factor of biomass on substrate (Y X/S = 0.24) and maximal biomass productivity (Q Xmax = 32.2 mg/L.h) were also reached. In tumor response study, mean tumor volume on the 21th day was 35.3 cm³ in untreated group and 1.6 cm³ in treated group (p = 0.05) with a tumor inhibition rate of 94%. These impressive results suggests an inhibitory effect of P.djamor extract on cancer cells.

Production of bioactive compounds with antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 by Pleurotus sajor-caju.

This work studied the influence of culture medium composition and pH on exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by Pleurotus sajor-caju and validates the antitumor activity of the produced EPSs and of the mycelial biomass (intracellular polysaccharides [IPSs]) against Sarcoma 180 (S180) cells. The effect of the initial concentrations of (NH4)2SO4, yeast extract and soy peptone on EPS production by P. sajor-caju was studied in shake flasks. A bioreactor was used to evaluate the pH values and the initial CaCO3 and glucose concentrations. Extracts of EPSs (PE1) and IPSs obtained through two different separation processes (PM1 and PM2) were tested on mice inoculated with S180 cells. A medium containing 2.5, 1.0, and 1.0 g/L of (NH4)2SO4, yeast extract and soy peptone, respectively, provided the highest EPS concentration (0.6 g/L). The use of pH 4.0, 1.0 g/L CaCO3 and 20 g/L initial glucose concentration enhanced EPS productivity (3.84 g/L per hour). The PE1 extract promoted the highest reduction of S180 growth (86%), followed by the PM2 extract (80%); growth reduction was dose-independent for both substances. This work provides information about culture medium and conditions that enhanced the production of extracellular polysaccharides by P. sajor-caju. The results can contribute to the search for new bioactive products bringing novel aspects to the medical and pharmaceutical areas.

Extracellular polysaccharide production by a strain of Pleurotus djamor isolated in the south of Brazil and antitumor activity on Sarcoma 180.

Polysaccharides with medicinal properties can be obtained from fruiting bodies, mycelium and culture broth of several fungus species. This work was carried out in batch culture using a stirred tank reactor with two different initial glucose concentrations (40-50 g/L) and pH values (3.0-4.0) to enhance extracellular polysaccharides production by Pleurotus djamor UNIVILLE 001 and evaluate antitumor effect of intraperitonial administration of Pleurotus djamor extract on sarcoma 180 animal model. According to factorial design, the low pH value (pH 3.0) led to a gain of 1.6 g/L on the extracellular polysaccharide concentration, while glucose concentration in the tested range had no significant effect on the concentration of polysaccharide. With 40 g/L initial glucose concentration and pH 3.0, it was observed that yield factor of extracellular polysaccharide on substrate (YP/S = 0.072) and maximum extracellular polysaccharide productivity (Q(Pmax) = 11.26 mg/L.h) were about 188% and 321% respectively higher than those obtained in the experiment performed at pH 4.0. Under these conditions, the highest values of the yield factor of biomass on substrate (YX/S = 0.24) and maximal biomass productivity (Q(Xmax) = 32.2 mg/L.h) were also reached. In tumor response study, mean tumor volume on the 21th day was 35.3 cm(3) in untreated group and 1.6 cm(3) in treated group (p = 0.05) with a tumor inhibition rate of 94%. These impressive results suggests an inhibitory effect of P.djamor extract on cancer cells.

Characterization and antineoplasic effect of extracts obtained from Pleurotus sajor-caju fruiting bodies.

Fungi of the Pleurotus genus present a great industrial interest due to their possibility of producing pharmacological compounds, pigments, aromas, organic acids, polysaccharides, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, etc. Among the therapeutic products, we can highlight those with antineoplasic activity, attributed to the fungi cell wall components. Based on this, the objective of this work was to study the antineoplasic capacity of the polysaccharidic fractions obtained from Pleurotus sajor-caju fruiting bodies. Female Swiss mice were inoculated with the Ehrlich ascitic tumor (5 x 10(6) cells/animal) in ascitic form. The polysaccharidic fractions were administered intraperitoneally, during a 6-day period. Fractions FI and FII presented a lower volume of ascitic liquid (3.1 and 1.8 mL, respectively) and a higher reduction in the number of neoplasic cells present in the ascitic liquid (86.2% and 85%, respectively), when compared to the positive control (group inoculated with the tumor but without treatment). These fractions were characterized in terms of monosaccharide composition. Glucose was the major component detected, followed by galactose and mannose. The anomeric carbon configuration of the beta-glucan was confirmed by the (13)C NMR (delta 103.7). Substituted and free C3 and C6 were also detected. Protein bands were confirmed through infrared analysis.