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Immunostimulant Activity of a Novel Polysaccharide Isolated from Lactarius deliciosus (L. ex Fr.) Gray

Summary

This research examined a unique sugar-based compound extracted from the Lactarius deliciosus mushroom and its potential medical benefits. The compound was found to boost immune system function and fight cancer cells in laboratory tests. This discovery is significant for everyday life in several ways: • Could lead to new natural cancer treatments with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy • Demonstrates the untapped potential of mushrooms as sources of medicine • Provides scientific support for traditional uses of medicinal mushrooms • May help develop new immune-boosting supplements for general health • Shows promise for developing sustainable, nature-based pharmaceutical compounds

Background

Fungal polysaccharides are bioactive compounds found in fruiting bodies, mycelium and fermentation broth of edible and medicinal fungi. These polysaccharides have been reported to exhibit various biological activities including antitumor, antioxidant and immunostimulant properties. Non-starch polysaccharides have emerged as an important class of bioactive natural products, with several mushroom-derived compounds already approved for clinical use in cancer treatments.

Objective

To investigate the immune activities and molecular mechanisms of a novel polysaccharide (LDG-A) isolated from Lactarius deliciosus mushrooms collected from Xiaojin country of Sichuan province, China.

Results

LDG-A demonstrated significant antitumor activity with 68.422% inhibition rate at 80 mg/kg dose. It promoted lymphocyte proliferation at 50-200 μg/ml and macrophage activity at 100-400 μg/ml. The polysaccharide increased production of cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and NO to levels comparable with lipopolysaccharides. Gene expression analysis showed dramatic increases in TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS mRNA in treated cells.

Conclusion

The purified polysaccharide LDG-A from Lactarius deliciosus demonstrates strong potential as a natural immune-stimulating substance through its ability to activate immune responses and inhibit tumor growth without causing damage to normal organs.
  • Published in:Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.4103/0250-474X.119809
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