Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide from Poria cocos.

In order to investigate the structural characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides, a water-soluble homogeneous polysaccharide (PCP-2) was isolated by water extraction and alcohol precipitation and further purified by Cellulose DEAE-52 and Sephacryl S-100HR column chromatography. PCP-2 is a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, and fucose in a molar ratio of 42.0: 35.0: 13.9: 9.1. It exhibits a narrow molecular weight distribution at 2.35 kDa with a branching degree of 37.1 %. The main chain types of PCP-2 include 1,3-ß-D-Glc and 1,6-ß-D-Glc as the backbone glucans and 1,6-α-D-Gal as the backbone heterogalactan. In vitro experiments demonstrate that PCP-2 directly stimulate RAW264.7 cell proliferation and secretion of inflammatory factors such as NO and TNF-α. In cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced mice, it promotes the development of thymus and spleen immune organs, elevates the blood levels of IgG, IgA, IgM and CD3+CD4+ T cells, increases the intestinal villus height/ crypt depth ratio and improves gut barrier dysfunctions. These findings suggest that PCP-2 is a natural fungal polysaccharide with broad spectrum of immunoenhancing effects, which can significantly ameliorate the immunocompromised state.

Fungal polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus are agonists for Toll-like receptors and induce macrophage anti-cancer activity.

Fungal polysaccharides can exert immunomodulating activity by triggering pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on innate immune cells such as macrophages. Here, we evaluate six polysaccharides isolated from the medicinal fungus Inonotus obliquus for their ability to activate mouse and human macrophages. We identify two water-soluble polysaccharides, AcF1 and AcF3, being able to trigger several critical antitumor functions of macrophages. AcF1 and AcF3 activate macrophages to secrete nitric oxide and the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Combined with interferon-γ, the fungal polysaccharides trigger high production of IL-12p70, a central cytokine for antitumor immunity, and induce macrophage-mediated inhibition of cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. AcF1 and AcF3 are strong agonists of the PRRs Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4, and weak agonists of Dectin-1. In comparison, two prototypical particulate ß-glucans, one isolated from I. obliquus and one from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (zymosan), are agonists for Dectin-1 but not TLR2 or TLR4, and are unable to trigger anti-cancer functions of macrophages. We conclude that the water-soluble polysaccharides AcF1 and AcF3 from I. obliquus have a strong potential for cancer immunotherapy by triggering multiple PRRs and by inducing potent anti-cancer activity of macrophages.

Chemical structures, extraction and analysis technologies, and bioactivities of edible fungal polysaccharides from Poria cocos: An updated review.

Poria cocos is a popular medicinal food. Polysaccharides are the key component of Poria cocos, forming 70-90 % of the dry sclerotia mass. Recent studies indicate that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP-Cs) have multiple beneficial functions and applications. A literature search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed databases. For this review, we provided an updated research progress in chemical structures, various extraction and analysis technologies, bioactivities of PCP-Cs, and insights into the directions for future research. The main polysaccharides identified in Poria cocos are water-soluble polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides. Hot water, alkali, supercritical fluid, ultrasonic, enzyme, and deep eutectic solvent-based methods are the most common methods for PCP-Cs extraction. Technologies such as near-infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, are commonly used to evaluate the qualities of PCP-Cs. In addition, PCP-Cs have antioxidant, immunomodulatory, neuroregulatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and gut microbiota regulatory properties. Future research is needed to focus on scaling up extraction, enhancing quality control, elucidating mechanisms of bioactivities, and the utilisation of PCP-Cs in food industries. Overall, Poria cocos is a good source of edible fungi polysaccharides, which can be developed into functional foods with potential health benefits.

Sodium sulfate addition increases the bioresource of biologically active sulfated polysaccharides from Antrodia cinnamomea.

Fungal sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) have been used in the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, sodium sulfate was employed as an elicitor to induce stress on the mycelia of Antrodia cinnamomea for the biosynthesis of SPS with high sulfate content. Sodium sulfate treatments increased the yield of SPS to 4.46 % and increased the sulfate content to 6.8 mmol/g of SPS. SPS were extracted from A. cinnamomea cultured with 500 mM sodium sulfate; these SPSs are denoted as Na500. Na500 exhibited the highest sulfate content and dose-dependent inhibitory activity against LPS-induced production of macrophage interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß). Mechanistically, Na500 hindered the phosphorylation of transforming growth factor-ß receptor II (TGFRII), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and protein kinase B (AKT) expression. A purified 7.79 kDa galactoglucan, Na500 F3, augmented the anti-inflammation activity by inhibiting LPS-induced TGFß release. Additionally, Na500 F3 restrained the LPS-induced phosphorylation of p-38, ERK, AKT, and TGFRII in RAW264.7 cells. Na500 F3 impeded the proliferation of lung cancer H1975 cells by inhibiting the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, ERK, and Slug. The anti-inflammation and anticancer properties of Antrodia SPS contribute to its health benefits, suggesting its utility in functional foods.

A New Exopolysaccharide from a Wood-Decaying Fungus Spongipellis borealis for a Wide Range of Biotechnological Applications.

Fungi are a unique natural resource rich in polysaccharides, proteins, and other components. Polysaccharides are considered one of the most important bioactive components in fungi. Increasing numbers of studies have confirmed that fungal polysaccharides have various biological activities. Given these facts, the main aim of this investigation was to carry out isolation, identification, and structural characterisation of a new polysaccharide (EPS) derived from laboratory-cultured vegetative mycelium of a new Spongipellis borealis strain isolated from the environment. The examination of monosaccharides in the EPS demonstrated that the isolated biopolymer was composed mainly of glucose, galactose, and mannose monomers. The analysis of the methylation of the studied polymer indicated that it contained mainly terminal, →3)-linked, →4)-linked, and →2,4)-linked hexoses. The effect of fungal polysaccharides on S. borealis proteolytic enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, and pycnoporopepsin) and laccase activity was determined for the first time. Incubation of the enzyme preparation and EPS showed an influence of EPS on the stability of these enzymes, compared to the control values (without EPS).

Mycelial biomass and intracellular polysaccharides production, characterization, and activities in Auricularia auricula-judae cultured with different carbon sources.

The carbon source, an essential factor for submerged culture, affects fungal polysaccharides production, structures, and activities. This study investigated the impact of carbon sources, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mannose, on mycelial biomass and the production, structural characterization, and bioactivities of intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) produced by submerged culture of Auricularia auricula-judae. Results showed that mycelial biomass and IPS production varied with different carbon sources, where using glucose as the carbon source produced the highest mycelial biomass (17.22 ± 0.29 g/L) and IPS (1.62 ± 0.04 g/L). Additionally, carbon sources were found to affect the molecular weight (Mw) distributions, monosaccharide compositions, structural characterization, and activities of IPSs. IPS produced with glucose as the carbon source exhibited the best in vitro antioxidant activities and had the strongest protection against alloxan-damaged islet cells. Correlation analysis revealed that Mw correlated positively with mycelial biomass (r = 0.97) and IPS yield (r = 1.00), while IPS antioxidant activities correlated positively with Mw and negatively with mannose content; the protective activity of IPS was positively related to its reducing power. These findings indicate a critical structure-function relationship for IPS and lay the foundation for utilizing liquid-fermented A. aruicula-judae mycelia and the IPS in functional food production.

Isolation, structures, bioactivities, application and future prospective for polysaccharides from Tremella aurantialba: A review.

Since ancient times, Tremella aurantialba has been proposed to have medicinal and food benefits. Modern phytochemistry and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides, the main components from T. aurantialba appear to be an all-round talent resisting a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases and protecting against different types of tumors, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These health and pharmacological benefits have gained much attention from scholars around the world. Further, more and more methods for polysaccharides extraction, purification, structure identification have been proposed. Significantly, the bioactivity of fungus polysaccharides is affected by many factors such as extraction and purification conditions and chemical structure. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in the isolation, structural features and biological effects of polysaccharides derived from T. aurantialba, covers recent advances in the field and outlines future research and applications of these polysaccharides.

Structure and bioactivity of polysaccharide from a subseafloor strain of Schizophyllum commune 20R-7-F01.

Fungal polysaccharide is a kind of biomacromolecule with multiple biological activities, which has a wide application prospect and may play an important role in organisms to cope with extreme environments. Herein, we reported an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) produced by Schizophyllum commune 20R-7-F01 that was isolated from subseafloor sediments at ~2 km below the seafloor, obtained during expedition 337. The monosaccharide of EPS was glucose and its molecular weight was 608.8 kDa. Methylation and NMR analysis indicated that the backbone of the EPS was (1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-glucan with a side chain (1 â†’ 6) ß-D-glucan linking at every third residue. Bio-active assays revealed that the EPS had potent antioxidant activity and could promote RAW264.7 cells viability and phagocytosis. These results suggest that fungi derived from sediments below seafloor are important and new source of polysaccharides and may be involved in the adaptation of fungi to anoxic subseafloor extreme ecosystem.

Structure, anti-tumor activity, and potential anti-tumor mechanism of a fungus polysaccharide from Fomes officinalis.

In our ongoing process of discovering bioactive macromolecules, a homogeneous polysaccharide (FOP80-1) was first purified from Fomes officinalis. FOP80-1 with molecular weight of 4560 Da was mainly composed of →3)-d-Galp-(1→, →4)-ß-d-Manp-(1→, →6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3,6)-d-Glcp-(1→, and t--d-Glcp. Besides the structure features, the anti-tumor activity and potential mechanism of FOP80-1 were also investigated. The cellular and zebrafish experiments revealed that FOP80-1 inhibited tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by increasing ROS, arresting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing angiogenesis. Corresponding to the inhibition of angiogenesis, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments revealed that FOP80-1 had good affinity with VEGF, a crucial protein to regulate angiogenesis. Molecular docking indicated that FOP80-1 could interact with the protein VEGF.

Characterization and immunomodulatory effect of an alkali-extracted galactomannan from Morchella esculenta.

In our continuous exploration for bioactive polysaccharides, a novel polysaccharide FMP-2 was isolated and purified from the fruiting bodies of Morchella esculenta by alkali-assisted extraction. FMP-2 had an average molecular weight of 1.09 × 106 Da and contained mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 4.10:0.22:1.00:5.75:0.44. The backbone of FMP-2 mainly consisted of 1,2-α-D-Galp, 1,6-α-D-Galp, and 1,4-α-D-Manp, with branches of 1,4,6-α-D-Manp and 1,2,6-α-D-Galp. FMP-2 can stimulate phagocytosis and promote the secretion of NO, ROS, and cytokines like IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells ranging from 25 to 400 µg/mL. FMP-2 had great repairing effect on the immune injury of zebrafish induced by chloramphenicol. The phagocytosis ability of zebrafish macrophages and the proliferation of neutrophils can be greatly enhanced by polysaccharide FMP-2 with concentrations from 50 to 200 µg/mL. These findings suggest that FMP-2 might be used as a potential immunomodulator in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Ganoderma applanatum polysaccharides and ethanol extracts promote the recovery of colitis through intestinal barrier protection and gut microbiota modulations.

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with intestinal homeostasis dysregulation and gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Ganoderma applanatum extracts (G. applanatum polysaccharides (GAP) and 75% ethanol extracts (GAE)) on colon inflammation and elucidate the therapeutic mechanism. GAP and GAE showed considerable protective effects against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, as demonstrated by reduced mortality, body weight, disease activity index score, colon length, and histological score. Through GAP and GAE administration, the destroyed intestinal barrier recovered to normal, as did intestinal inflammation. We also confirmed that GAP administration promoted the recovery of colitis in a gut microbiota-dependent manner. The similarity between GAP and GAE administration was that they both altered the disordered gut microbiota damaged by DSS, exhibiting reduced abundance of Escherichia_Shigella, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus, but the modulation of the gut microbiota was distinct between GAP and GAE.

Assessment of the protective effect of yeast cell wall ß-glucan encapsulating humic acid nanoparticles as an aflatoxin B1 adsorbent in vivo.

This study aimed to assess the protective effect of encapsulating humic acid-iron complexed nanoparticles (HA-Fe NPs) inside glucanmannan lipid particles (GMLPs) extracted from yeast cell wall against aflatoxin B (AFB1 ) toxicity in vivo. Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally for 2 weeks included the control group, AFB1 treated group (80 µg/kg b.w); GMLP/HA-Fe NPs treated group (0.5 mg/kg b.w), and the group treated with AFB1 plus GMLP/HA-Fe NPs. GMLPs are empty 3-4 micron permeable microspheres that provide an efficient system for the synthesis and encapsulation of AFB1 -absorbing nanoparticles (NPs). Humic acid nanoparticles (HA-NPs) were incorporated inside the GMLP cavity by complexation with ferric chloride. In vivo study revealed that AFB1 significantly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, uric acid, urea, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide. It significantly decreased total protein, high-density lipoprotein, hepatic and renal CAT and glutathione peroxidase content and induced histological changes in the liver and kidney (p ≤ 0.05). The coadministration of the synthesized formulation GMLP/HA-Fe NPs with AFB1 has a protective effect against AFB1 -induced hepato-nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress and histological alterations in the liver and kidney.

Structural characterisation and antitumor activity against non-small cell lung cancer of polysaccharides from Sanghuangporus vaninii.

The medicinal fungus Sanghuangporus vaninii can be cultivated in large scale and has outstanding antitumour activity. In this study, water-soluble S. vaninii polysaccharides (SVPs) were extracted from fruiting bodies. Four polysaccharide sub-fractions (SVP-W, SVP-1, SVP-2 and SVP-3) were isolated, with molecular weights from 90.50 kDa to 261.70 kDa, and all inhibited the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines A549, 95-D and NCI-H460, especially the acidic SVP-1. SVP-1 affected cell morphology and colony formation in NCI-H460 cells. It also promoted cell apoptosis following nuclear fluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses revealed that SVP-1 is a heteroglycan with the main chain →4)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 6)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 6)-α-D-Galp-(1 â†’ 6)-ß-D-Glcp-(1→, and the branched chain α-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 2)-α-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 3,6)-ß-D-Glcp-(1→. The findings indicate that this natural acidic polysaccharide has potential for non-small cell lung cancer therapy.

Polysaccharide CM1 from Cordyceps militaris hinders adipocyte differentiation and alleviates hyperlipidemia in LDLR(+/-) hamsters.

BACKGROUND: Cordyceps militaris is cultured widely as an edible mushroom and accumulating evidence in mice have demonstrated that the polysaccharides of Cordyceps species have lipid-lowering effects. However, lipid metabolism in mice is significantly different from that in humans, making a full understanding of the mechanisms at play critical. METHODS: After 5 months, the hamsters were weighed and sampled under anesthesia after overnight fasting. The lipid-lowering effect and mechanisms of the polysaccharide CM1 was investigated by cellular and molecular technologies. Furthermore, the effect of the polysaccharide CM1 (100 µg/mL) on inhibiting adipocyte differentiation was investigated in vitro. RESULTS: CM1, a polysaccharide from C. militaris, significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and epididymal fat index in LDLR(+/-) hamsters, which have a human-like lipid profile. After 5 months' administration, CM1 decreased the plasma level of apolipoprotein B48, modulated the expression of key genes and proteins in liver, small intestine, and epididymal fat. CM1 also inhibited preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by downregulating the key genes involved in lipid droplet formation. CONCLUSIONS: The polysaccharide CM1 lowers lipid and adipocyte differentiation by several pathways, and it has potential applications for hyperlipidemia prevention.

Selenium-Containing Exopolysaccharides Isolated from the Culture Medium of Lentinula edodes: Structure and Biological Activity.

In continuation of our research on the influence of selenium incorporation on the biosynthesis, structure, and immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides of fungal origin, we have isolated from a post-culture medium of Lentinula edodes a selenium (Se)-containing exopolysaccharide fraction composed mainly of a highly branched 1-6-α-mannoprotein of molecular weight 4.5 × 106 Da, with 15% protein component. The structure of this fraction resembled mannoproteins isolated from yeast and other mushroom cultures, but it was characterized by a significantly higher molecular weight. X-ray absorption fine structure spectral analysis in the near edge region (XANES) suggested that selenium in the Se-exopolysaccharide structure was present mainly at the IV oxidation state. The simulation analysis in the EXAFS region suggested the presence of two oxygen atoms in the region surrounding the selenium. On the grounds of our previous studies, we hypothesized that selenium-enriched exopolysaccharides would possess higher biological activity than the non-Se-enriched reference fraction. To perform structure-activity studies, we conducted the same tests of biological activity as for previously obtained mycelial Se-polyglucans. The Se-enriched exopolysaccharide fraction significantly enhanced cell viability when incubated with normal (human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)) cells (but this effect was absent for malignant human cervical HeLa cells) and this fraction also protected the cells from oxidative stress conditions. The results of tests on the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells suggested a selective immunosuppressive activity, like previously tested Se-polyglucans isolated from L. edodes mycelium. The Se-exopolysaccharide fraction, in concentrations of 10-100 µg/mL, inhibited human T lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens, without significant effects on B lymphocytes. As with previously obtained Se-polyglucans, in the currently tested Se-polymannans, the selenium content increased the biological activity. However, the activity of selenium exopolysaccharides in all tests was significantly lower than that of previously tested mycelial isolates, most likely due to a different mode of selenium binding and its higher degree of oxidation.

Selective Biological Effects of Selenium-Enriched Polysaccharide (Se-Le-30) Isolated from Lentinula edodes Mycelium on Human Immune Cells.

A common edible mushroom Lentinula edodes, is an important source of numerous biologically active substances, including polysaccharides, with immunomodulatory and antitumor properties. In the present work, the biological activity of the crude, homogenous (Se)-enriched fraction (named Se-Le-30), which has been isolated from L. edodes mycelium by a modified Chihara method towards human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and peripheral granulocytes, was investigated. The Se-Le-30 fraction, an analog of lentinan, significantly inhibited the proliferation of human PBMCs stimulated with anti-CD3 antibodies or allostimulated, and down-regulated the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by CD3+ T cells. Moreover, it was found that Se-Le-30 significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of human natural killer (NK) cells. The results suggested the selective immunosuppressive activity of this fraction, which is non-typical for mushroom derived polysaccharides.

WSG, a glucose-enriched polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, suppresses tongue cancer cells via inhibition of EGFR-mediated signaling and potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis.

Tongue cancer, a kind of oral cancer, is common in Southeast Asian countries because of dietary habits. However, there is no specific targeted drug that could effectively inhibit oral cancer. WSG, as a water soluble glucose-enriched polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, exerts excellent pharmacological efficacy of anti-lung cancer. However, its anticancer functions and mechanisms in human tongue cancer need to be further explored. Herein, we showed that WSG dramatically reduced cell viability and colony formation of tongue cancer cells. WSG increased subG1 and G2/M populations as well as induced apoptotic responses. In parallel, WSG enhanced apoptosis-related Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Mechanistic studies showed that WSG reduced phosphorylation of EGFR and AKT. In addition, we found a synergistic effect of WSG with cisplatin in inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis. WSG significantly reduced the inhibition concentration 50% (IC50) of cisplatin. More importantly, WSG ameliorated cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in normal human oral epithelial SG cells. In conclusion, our findings provided important insights into the anti-tongue cancer effects of WSG via inhibition of EGFR/AKT axis and induction of apoptosis, which indicated that WSG could be a promising supplement for tongue cancer treatment.

The chemical structure and immunomodulatory activity of an exopolysaccharide produced by Morchella esculenta under submerged fermentation.

The extracellular polysaccharide of Morchella esculenta cultivated under submerged fermentation was extracted. A single polysaccharide was purified through DEAE-Cellulose 52 and Sephadex G 100, and named as MEP 2a. The molecular weight of MEP 2a was determined by HPGPC and it is about 1391.5 kDa. MEP 2a is composed of mannose and glucose as the monosaccharide unit with a molar ratio of 8.15 : 1.07. The main polysaccharide chemical structure was analyzed by 1D and 2D NMR. Methylation and NMR analysis revealed that the backbone of MEP 2a consists of 1,3,4-linked-Manp, 1,2-linked-Manp and 1,6-linked-Glcp. 1D and 2D NMR results indicated that the main chain is based on →1)-ß-D-Glcp-(6→, →1)-α-D-Manp-(3,4→, →1)-α-D-Manp-(2→) and the branch chain is composed of α-D-Manp-(1→, →1)-ß-D-Glcp-(6→ and α-D-Glcp-(1→). MEP 2a promoted the phagocytosis function and secretion of NO, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α of macrophages. In the present study, the chemical structure and immunomodulatory ability of an extracellular polysaccharide of Morchella esculenta was investigated which guarantees further research studies and promising applications.

Antidepressant-like effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore polysaccharide-peptide mediated by upregulation of prefrontal cortex brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

A 28-kDa polysaccharide-peptide (PGL) with antidepressant-like activities was isolated from spores of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. It was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose. Its internal amino acid sequences manifested pronounced similarity with proteins from the mushrooms Lentinula edodes and Agaricus bisporus. The monosaccharides present in 28-kDa PGL comprised predominantly of glucose (over 90%) and much fewer galactose, mannose residues, and other residues. PGL manifested antidepressant-like activities as follows. It enhanced viability and DNA content in corticosterone-injured PC12 cells(a cell line derived from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla with an embryonic origin from the neural crest containing a mixture of neuroblastic cells and eosinophilic cells) and reduced LDH release. A single acute PGL treatment shortened the duration of immobility of mice in both tail suspension and forced swimming tests. PGL treatment enhanced sucrose preference and shortened the duration of immobility in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Chronic PGL treatment reversed the decline in mouse brain serotonin and norepinephrine levels but did not affect dopamine levels. PGL decreased serum corticosterone levels and increased BDNF mRNA and protein levels and increased synapsin I and PSD95 levels in the prefrontal cortex. This effect was completely blocked by pretreatment with the BDNF antagonist K252a, indicating that PGL increased synaptic proteins in a BDNF-dependent manner.Key points• An antidepressive polysaccharide-peptide PGL was isolated from G. lucidum spores.• PGL protected PC12 nerve cells from the toxicity of corticosterone.• PGL upregulated BDNF expression and influenced key factors in the prefrontal cortex.

Ganoderma formosanum Exopolysaccharides Inhibit Tumor Growth via Immunomodulation.

Ganoderma formosanum (GF) is a medicinal mushroom endemic to Taiwan. Previous research established the optimal culture conditions to produce exopolysaccharide rich in ß-glucan (GF-EPS) from submerged fermentation of GF. The present study investigated the antitumor effects of GF-EPS in a Lewis lung carcinoma cell (LLC1) tumor-bearing mice model. In the preventive model, GF-EPS was orally administered to mice before LLC1 injection. In the therapeutic model, GF-EPS oral administration was initiated five days after tumor cell injection. The tumor size and body weight of the mice were recorded. After sacrifice, the lymphocyte subpopulation was analyzed using flow cytometry. Spleen tissues were used to analyze cytokine mRNA expression. The results showed that GF-EPS (80 mg/kg) effectively suppressed LLC1 tumor growth in both the preventive and therapeutic models. GF-EPS administration increased the proportion of natural killer cells in the spleen and activated gene expression of several cytokines. Our results provide evidence that GF-EPS promotes tumor inhibition through immunomodulation in tumor-bearing mice.