Glucan antitumor effect

It is important to note here that the DB determines the tertiary structure of polysaccharides, which is a crucial factor that has dramatic effect on their bioactivities. For example, schizophyllan and lentinan have triple helical con-formers formed by (1 —> 3)-p-glucans, which were demonstrated to be necessary for antitumor effects [108]. 

Nishikawa Y, Yoshimoto K, Horiuchi R (nee Murakami), Michishita K, Okabe M, Fukuoka F (1979) Studies on the water-soluble constituents of lichens. III. Changes in antitumor effect caused by modifications of pustulan- and lichenan-type glucans. Chem Pharm Bull 27 2065-2072... 

Nishikawa, Y., K. Yoshimoto, R. Horiuchi (nee Murakami), K. Michishita, M. Okabe, and F. Fukuoka Change in Antitumor Effect Caused by Modifications of Pustulan Type and Lichenan Type Glucans. Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Japan) 27,1065 (1979). Nolan, T. J., J. Algar, E. P. McCann, W. A. Manahan, and N. Nolan The Chemical Constituents of Lichens Found in Ireland. Buellia canescens. Part 3. The Constitution of Diploicin. Sci. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc. 24, 319 (1948). 

The inhibitory effects of berbamine and ISO natural products on the cytotoxic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was investigated. The research employed the effects of natural products on the PMN activation by the antitumor immunomodulator TAK (a linear P-1,3-D-glucan from Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes) using a PMN cytotoxicity assay system. Berbamine was found to inhibit the activation of PMN activation by TAK, showing an IDJ0 33 pg/ml. From this, and related studies, it was postulated that berbamine may impair the NADPH oxidase system in the plasma membrane of PMN [199]. 

Ohno, N. et al., Effect of glucans on the antitumor activity of grifolan, Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo), 34,2149-2154,1986. 

In addition to antimicrobial applications, p(l,3)-Glucans have been explored as antitumor agents for cancer therapeutics. It is believed that the activity of these polysaccharides is related to their triple helical conformation, as denaturation of the polysaccharide leads to the loss of tumor inhibition properties. However, the precise mechanism of any observed antitumor activity is poorly understood. These effects are... 

Nishikawa Y, Ohno H (1981) Studies on the water-soluble constituents of lichens. IV. Effect of antitumor lichen-glucans and related derivatives on the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in mice. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 29 3407-3410 Nishikawa Y, Takeda T, Shibata S et al (1969) Polysaccharides in lichens and fungi. 3. Further investigation on the structures and the antitumor activity of the polysaccharides from Gyrophora esculenta Miyoshi and Lasallia papulosa Llano. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 17 1910-1916... 

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