New insights into the anti- hepatoma mechanism of triple-helix β- glucan by metabolomics profiling

Natural polysaccharide as the third abundant biomacromolecule has attracted considerable attentions due to their superior anti-tumor activities. However, the anti-tumor mechanism of polysaccharides has not been completely understood. Herein, the anti-tumor effects of black fungus polysaccharide (BFP), a typical β-glucan was comprehensively investigated, and the anti-tumor mechanism was obtained from metabolomics profiling. The in vitro results demonstrate that BFP inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatoma carcinoma cells (HCC) through inducing the cell apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at S phase without direct cytotoxicity. The hepatoma-bearing nude mice experiments further demonstrate that BFP could significantly inhibit the growth without system toxicity in vivo. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics unveils that BFP significantly disturbed the multiple metabolic pathways, leading to the inhibition of tumor cells proliferation by promoting DNA damage, attenuating DNA damage repair, and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This study provides new insights for pharmacological research and clinical practice of polysaccharides.

Fabrication and characterization of Rhizochitosan and its incorporation with platelet concentrates to promote wound healing

Composite dressing composed of Rhizochitosan and Regenplex™ to promote wound healing were assessed. Rhizochitosan was fabricated by deacetylation of Rhizochitin, which obtained by simply depigmenting sporangium-free mycelial mattress produced from Rhizopus stolonifer F6. Physicochemical characterizations of Rhizochitosan demonstrated that it contained 13.5% chitosan with a water-absorption ability of 35-fold dry weight and exhibiting hydrogel nature after hydration. In a wound-healing study on SD rats with full-thickness injury, the composite dressing had a better healing effect than those for each individual components and control group and wound even healed as functional tissue instead of scar tissue. The underlying mechanism of the composite beneficial to wound remodeling is likely attributable to a more reduction level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in early stage and a higher MMP-2 expression level in a later stage of healing process. Conclusively, the composite dressing demonstrated to be highly beneficial to the healing of full-thickness injury wound.

Yeast Shells Encapsulating Adjuvant AS04 as an Antigen Delivery System for a Novel Vaccine against Toxoplasma Gondii

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection causes severe zoonotic toxoplasmosis, which threatens the safety of almost one-third of the human population globally. However, there is no effective protective vaccine against human toxoplasmosis. This necessitates anti-T. gondii vaccine development, which is a main priority of public health. In this study, we optimized the adjuvant system 04 (AS04), a vaccine adjuvant constituted by 3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A (a TLR4 agonist) and aluminum salts, by packing it within natural extracts of β-glucan particles (GPs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to form a GP-AS04 hybrid adjuvant system. Through a simple mixing procedure, we loaded GP-AS04 particles with the total extract (TE) of T. gondii lysate, forming a novel anti-T. gondii vaccine GP-AS04-TE. Results indicated that the hybrid adjuvant can efficiently and stably load antigens, mediate antigen delivery, facilitate the dendritic uptake of antigens, boost dendritic cell maturation and stimulation, and increase the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the mouse inoculation model, GP-AS04-TE significantly stimulated the function of dendritic cells, induced a very strong TE-specific humoral and cellular immune response, and finally showed a strong and effective protection against toxoplasma chronic and acute infections. This work proves the potential of GP-AS04 for exploitation as a vaccine against a range of pathogens.

Nutraceutical Approach to Preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Related Complications

Introduction

Several months ago, Chinese authorities identified an atypical pneumonia in Wuhan city, province of Hubei (China) caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2). The WHO announced this new disease was to be known as "COVID-19".

Evidence Acquisition

Several approaches are currently underway for the treatment of this disease, but a specific cure remains to be established.

Evidence Synthesis

This review will describe how the use of selected nutraceuticals could be helpful, in addition to pharmacological therapy, in preventing some COVID-19-related complications in infected patients.

Conclusions

Even if a specific and effective cure for COVID-19 still has some way to go, selected nutraceuticals could be helpful, in addition to pharmacological therapy, in preventing some COVID-19-related complications in infected patients.

Medicinal Properties and Bioactive Compounds from Wild Mushrooms Native to North America

Mushrooms, the fruiting bodies of fungi, are known for a long time in different cultures around the world to possess medicinal properties and are used to treat various human diseases. Mushrooms that are parts of traditional medicine in Asia had been extensively studied and this has led to identification of their bioactive ingredients. North America, while home to one of the world's largest and diverse ecological systems, has not subjected its natural resources especially its diverse array of mushroom species for bioprospecting purposes: Are mushrooms native to North America a good source for drug discovery? In this review, we compile all the published studies up to September 2020 on the bioprospecting of North American mushrooms. Out of the 79 species that have been investigated for medicinal properties, 48 species (60%) have bioactivities that have not been previously reported. For a mere 16 selected species, 17 new bioactive compounds (10 small molecules, six polysaccharides and one protein) have already been isolated. The results from our literature search suggest that mushrooms native to North America are indeed a good source for drug discovery.

Antioxidation, anti-hyperlipidaemia and hepatoprotection of polysaccharides from Auricularia auricular residue

As hyperlipidemia was a pathological progress by lipid dysfunctions, the present object was to investigate the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of Auricularia auricular residue polysaccharides (RPS) against HFE (high-fat emulsion) toxicities in mice. The structure analysis showed that the RPS was pyranose-polysaccharides mainly composed of glucose with the weight-average molecular weight of 2.00 × 10⁵ Da. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that the RPS had potential hepatoprotections by enhancing the antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidaemia status, and could inhibit the increasing body weights. Besides, the RPS could improve the glucose utilization with the oral glucose tolerance test (120 min) of 5.04 ± 0.12 mmol/L at the dose of 400 mg/kg bw. The results in present study demonstrated that RPS could be used as a functional foods and natural medicines against the HFE-induced hyperlipidemia and its complications.

Ganoderma lucidum: A rational pharmacological approach to surmount cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been broadly used for health endorsement as well as longevity for over 2000 years in Asian countries. It is an example of an ancient remedy and known as immortality mushroom. It has been employed as a health promoting agent owing to its broad pharmacological and therapeutical approaches. It has been confirmed that G. lucidum exhibits significant potency to prevent and treat different types of cancers such as breast, prostate, colon, lung and cervical.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore anticancer effects of various pharmacologically active compounds obtained from G. lucidum and their possible mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Goggle Scholar, Saudi Digital Library and Cochrane Library until October 11, 2019. Search was made by using keywords such as anticancer evidence, mechanism of action, pharmacology, antioxidant, toxicity, chemotherapy, triterpenoids and polysaccharides of G. lucidum.

RESULTS

Various chemical compounds from G. lucidum exhibit anticancer properties mainly through diverse mechanism such as cytotoxic properties, host immunomodulators, metabolizing enzymes induction, prohibit the expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in cancer cells. Among the various compounds of G. lucidum triterpenoids and polysaccharides are under the major consideration of studies due to their several evidence of preclinical and clinical studies against cancer.

CONCLUSION

Natural alternatives associated with mild side effects are the basic human need of present therapy to eradicate the new emerging disorders. This review is an attempt to compile pharmacologically active compounds of G. lucidum those exhibit anti cancer effects either alone or along with chemotherapy and anticancer mechanisms against various cancer cells, clinical trials, chemotherapy induced toxicity challenges with limitations. It acts as a possible substitute to combat cancer growth with advance and conventional combination therapies as natural alternatives.

Use of Ganoderma lucidum (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota) as Radioprotector

For millennia, naturopaths and physicians have used Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) for its diverse therapeutic properties, as recorded in the oldest Chinese herbal encyclopedia. Indeed, a radioprotective effect has been reported in the isolated components of its extracts. A systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was conducted in March 2020, searching databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, along with Clinical Trials. The inclusion criteria were ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo studies, with full texts in English, conducted to determine the radioprotective benefits of G. lucidum, or reports in which ionizing radiation was used. From a total number of 1109 records identified, 15 full text articles were eligible, none of them were clinical trials. In vivo studies reveal the efficiency of G. lucidum aqueous extracts of polysaccharides and triterpenes in mice exposed to γ-rays. In plasmid, they can reduce radiation damage as an increment of the open circular form, as well as increase the DNA extension, as shown in vitro studies. Ex vivo studies conducted in human blood cells show the radioprotective effect of β-glucan of aqueous extract of G. lucidum, nevertheless, its implementation as radioprotector to humans is in need of further clinical research studies.

Spatial Distribution of Glucan Type and Content between Caps and Stalks in Pleurotus eryngii: Impact on the Anti-inflammatory Functionality

: Pleurotus eryngii is recognized for its prominent nutritional and medicinal value. In our study, we tested the effect of glucans on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of TNF-α. We demonstrated that glucan extracts are more effective than mill mushroom preparations. Additionally, the effectiveness of stalk-derived glucans were slightly more pronounced than of caps. Cap and stalk glucans from mill or isolated glucan competed dose-dependently with anti-Dectin-and anti-CR-3 antibodies, indicating that they contain β-glucans recognized by these receptors. Using the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-inflammatory bowel disease mice model, intestinal inflammatory response to the mill preparations was measured and compared to extracted glucan fractions from caps and stalks. We found that mill and glucan extracts were very effective in downregulating IFN-γ and MIP-2 levels and that stalk-derived preparations were more effective than from caps. The tested glucans were equally effective in regulating the number of CD14/CD16 monocytes and upregulating the levels of fecal-released IgA to almost normal levels. In conclusion, the most effective glucans in ameliorating some IBD-inflammatory associated symptoms induced by DSS treatment in mice were glucan extracts prepared from the stalk of P. eryngii. These spatial distinctions may be helpful in selecting more effective specific anti-inflammatory mushrooms-derived glucans.

Anti-Metastatic Effects of Antrodan with and without Cisplatin on Lewis Lung Carcinomas in a Mouse Xenograft Model

Antrodan, a unique protein-bound polysaccharide derived from the fungal mycelia of Antrodia cinnamomea, has been reported to exhibit antitumor and anti-metastatic effects on Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells through direct action and immunomodulation in vitro. In this study, we investigated the combined treatment of antrodan with an anti-cancer drug-cisplatin-and its underlying molecular mechanisms of action in a mouse xenograft tumor model. C57BL/6 mice were implanted (s.c.) with LLCs for nine days, before administration with only antrodan (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg; p.o.) daily, only cisplatin (1 mg/kg; i.p.) twice per week, or a combination of both for an additional 28 days. As expected, antrodan on its own significantly inhibited metastasis of lung and liver tissues, while treatment with cisplatin only merely inhibited metastasis of the liver. Antrodan exhibited efficient adjuvant therapy in combination with cisplatin, by inhibiting the activities of the plasma urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and the liver matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), as well as by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) in lung and liver tissues. In addition, antrodan effectively ameliorated cisplatin-induced kidney dysfunction when treated combinatorially, as evidenced by a decrease in cisplatin-induced blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in plasma and in the level of p38 phosphorylation in the kidney. Mechanistically, the actions of antrodan on its own involved (i) reducing the activities of uPA and MMP-2 and -9 in plasma; (ii) reducing protein expression of MMP-2/9, and the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 in lung and liver tissues; and (iii) enhancing immune system functions resulting in the promotion of an anti-metastatic response through immunomodulation, by increasing interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels and decreasing interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in plasma. These results demonstrated that antrodan provides a novel, complementary therapeutic strategy against cancer metastasis, by attenuating the activities of MMP-2 and -9 through the modulation of STAT3/MAPK/ERK/JNK signaling pathways, and of the host's immune system.

Grifola frondosa polysaccharide: a review of antitumor and other biological activity studies in China

Grifola frondosa, a species of Basidiomycotina, is an edible medicinal mushroom with a large fruiting body characterized by overlapping caps. The β-glucan is the major biologically active component in G. frondosa polysaccharide (GFP) or D-fraction, which has been studied extensively for nearly 30 years. GFP was approved as an adjunctive therapeutic drug in China for treating cancers in 2010. In this article, based on the search results of Chinese VIP, CNKI, and Wanfang databases, 105 independent animal studies were summarized. The chemical structure, the antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemia, and antiviral activities and molecular mechanisms of GFP are reviewed and discussed.

Antitumorpharmacological mechanism of the oral liquid of Poriacocos polysaccharide

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The liquid oral formulation of Poria cocos polysaccharides is composed of polysaccharides of Lentinusedodes, Ganodermalucidum and Poria cocos(1:1:2), which are all fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine. Polysaccharides extracted from these fungi have been reported to exhibit an antitumor effect by modulating the immune system.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to clarify the antitumor mechanism of an orally administered liquid containing Poriacocos and to further provide clinical guidance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the effects of an orally administered liquid containing Poriacocos polysaccharides on the solid tumors formed from sarcoma 180 cells in mice were evaluated. The protein expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, and caspase-9in the thymus, spleen and liver tissues in the mice was determined by Western blot analysis. In addition, hematoxylin-eosin（H&E）staining and immunohistochemistry were performed on thymus, spleen and liver tissue and the positive staining rate was calculated for the three protein expression.

RESULTS

The liquid oral formulation of Poriacocos polysaccharides reduced Bcl-2 protein levels and increased caspase-3 and -9 protein levels in sarcoma 180 cells.

CONCLUSION

The mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of the oral liquid formulation of Poriacocos polysaccharides involved inhibition of Bcl-2 expression and activation of caspase-9 expression in sarcoma 180 cells. Furthermore, the downstream caspase-3 promoter cascade was activated and cell apoptosis was activated in sarcoma 180 cells.

Preclinical and clinical studies of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharopeptide as an immunotherapeutic in China

Conventional cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In recent years, immunotherapy in cancer care has been gaining momentum. Interestingly, an immunotherapeutic regime that employs polysaccharopeptide (PSP), a unique peptide-containing polysaccharide isolated from Coriolus versicolor, has already become a routine clinical practice in Japan since 1977 and in China since 1987. Coriolus versicolor is one of the most well-known traditional food and medicinal mushrooms in China for thousands of years. Medically used PSP is mostly obtained from the extraction of cultured Coriolus versicolor mycelia where β-glucan is the major component. PSP has proven beneficial to survival and quality of life not only for cancer patients but also for patients with hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, and other chronic diseases. In this article, the results of PSP-related preclinical and clinical studies conducted in China from over 40 independent studies during the past 40 years based on searching the Chinese VIP, CNKI, and Wanfang databases are presented. Its immunomodulatory and anti-tumor molecular mechanisms are also summarized. PSP activates immune cells, increases the expressions of cytokines and chemokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6), histamine, and prostaglandin E, enhances dendritic and T-cell infiltration into tumors, and ameliorates the adverse events associated with chemotherapy. The clinical studies support PSP being a potential immunotherapeutic. However, the complicated chemical and multiple pharmacological properties of PSP need to be investigated further.

Antidiabetic activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides F31 down-regulated hepatic glucose regulatory enzymes in diabetic mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ganoderma lucidum (Lin Zhi) has been used to treat diabetes in Chinese folk for centuries. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) had hypoglycemic effects in diabetic mice. Our aim was to identify the main bioactives in GLPs and corresponding mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four polysaccharide-enriched fraction were isolated from GLPs and the antidiabetic activities were evaluated by type 2 diabetic mice. Fasting serum glucose (FSG), fasting serum insulin (FSI) and epididymal fat/BW ratio were measured at the end of the experiment. In liver, the mRNA levels of hepatic glucose regulatory enzymes were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the protein levels of phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK)/AMPK were determined by western blotting test. In epididymal fat tissue, the mRNA and protein levels GLUT4, resistin, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC1) were determined by qPCR and immuno-histochemistry. The structure of polysaccharide F31 was obtained from GPC, FTIR NMR and GC-MS spectroscopy, RESULTS: F31 significantly decreased FSG (P<0.05), FSI and epididymal fat/BW ratio (P<0.01). In liver, F31 decreased the mRNA levels of hepatic glucose regulatory enzymes, and up-regulated the ratio of phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK)/AMPK. In epididymal fat tissue, F31 increased the mRNA levels of GLUT4 but decreased fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC1) and resistin. Immuno-histochemistry results revealed F31 increased the protein levels of GLUT4 and decreased resistin.

CONCLUSION

Data suggested that the main bioactives in GLPs was F31, which was determined to be a β-heteropolysaccharide with the weight-average molecular weight of 15.9kDa. The possible action mechanism of F31 may be associated with down-regulation of the hepatic glucose regulated enzyme mRNA levels via AMPK activation, improvement of insulin resistance and decrease of epididymal fat/BW ratio. These results strongly suggest that F31 has antidiabetic potential.

[Antitumor Activity of Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum Mycelium: in vivo Comparative Study]

Fractions of water soluble and alkali soluble polysaccharides, as well as fucogalactan, a water soluble polysaccharide, and xylomannan, an alkali soluble polysaccharide, were isolated from the Ganoderma lucidum submerged mycelium. When administered orally, the polysaccharides showed antitumor activity in vivo on murine models of solid tumors. Xylomannan and fucogalactan showed the highest antitumor activity. Sensitivity to xylomannan was more pronounced in adenocarcinoma Ca755 as compared to the T-cell lymphocytic leukemia P388. The antitumor activity of the water soluble polysaccharides total fractions from the mycelium and fruiting bodies of the G. lucidum strain was almost identical. The maximum antitumor effect of the mycelium water soluble polysaccharides total fraction was observed with the use of the daily dose of 2 mg/kg.

Polysaccharide from Phellinus linteus induces S-phase arrest in HepG2 cells by decreasing calreticulin expression and activating the P27kip1-cyclin A/D1/E-CDK2 pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Our previous study showed that the proteoglycan P1 from Phellinus linteus (Mesima) exhibits significant anti-tumor activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2); however, its molecular mechanism remains unknown. This study aims to provide insights into the mechanism of the anti-tumor activity of P1 against HepG2 cells.

METHODS

We examined the effects of P1 on HepG2 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Proteomic analysis, real-time (RT)-PCR, and Western blot were carried out to observe the expression of several cell cycle control proteins in HepG2 cells.

RESULTS

Both the volume and the weight of solid tumors were significantly decreased in P1-treated mice (200mg/kg) compared with the control. The HepG2 cells in the P1-treated tumors were significantly decreased, irregularly shaped, and smaller. P1 slightly increased the body weight of the tumor-bearing mice, which indicates that P1 is nontoxic to mammals at 200mg/kg. P1 also caused a significant dose-dependent increase in S phase arrest, but no apoptosis was observed in HepG2 cells. The results of the proteomic analysis, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis showed that significantly downregulated expression of calreticulin, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and CDK2 and upregulated expression of P27 kip1 and cyclin A in the P1-treated HepG2 cells (200 μg/ml).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that calreticulin expression and the P27 kip1-cyclin A/D1/E-CDK2 pathway were involved in P1-induced S-phase cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells.

Polysaccharide from Ganoderma atrum evokes antitumor activity via Toll-like receptor 4-mediated NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways

Ganoderma atrum has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. In this study, the antitumor activity of a novel G. atrum polysaccharide (PSG-1) was investigated in vitro and in vivo using S180 tumor-bearing mice. The results showed that PSG-1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of S180 via the activation of macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. PSG-1-primed macrophages exhibited a higher tumoricidal activity than untreated macrophages. Administration of PSG-1 significantly inhibited the growth of transplantable sarcoma S180-bearing mice and increased macrophage phagocytosis and the levels of cytokines and nitride oxide. Expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in the membrane was markedly increased in PSG-1-treated groups, suggesting that it may be a possible receptor for PSG-1. PSG-1 also promoted the translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB from cytosol to nucleus and the degradation of IκBα. Moreover, the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in macrophages was improved by PSG-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, it is suggested that PSG-1 may elicit its antitumor effect by improving immune system functions through TLR4-mediated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Immunomodulatory effect of polysaccharides from submerged cultured Cordyceps gunnii

CONTEXT

The genus Cordyceps (Clavicipitaceae) is a group of entomopathogenic fungi that is widely used as tonic food or invigorant with broad-spectrum medicinal properties in China. Cordyceps gunnii (Berk.)Berk (C. gunnii), is also well known as the Chinese rare caterpillar fungus and has similar pharmacological activities with Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis). Polysaccharides (PS) from various Cordyceps species have demonstrated many interesting biological activities, including antitumor, immunopotentiation, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic activities.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of C. gunnii PS on the immunostimulatory antitumor function and expression of immune related cytokines in normal, immuno-suppressive, and H22-bearing mice, respectively.

METHODS

C. gunnii PS were extracted with hot water at 80°C for 2 h. Normal, immuno-suppressive, and H22-bearing mice were treated with PS respectively. By detecting the value of macrophage phagocytic index, proliferation of lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cell activity and expression of related cytokines, interleukin (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor inhibition index in H22-bearing mice additionally, the effect of PS on immunostimulatory antitumor function and its mechanism were studied.

RESULTS

The total sugar content of the PS was determined to be 95% after purification. PS markedly increased the thymus and spleen indexes, the macrophage phagocytosis, the proliferation of splenic cells, and the level of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In tumor growth inhibition test, PS showed remarkable inhibition effects.

CONCLUSION

PS from the C. gunnii could enhance nonspecific immunological function, humoral immunity, cellular immunity in mice, and inhibit tumor growth.

Effects of purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1→3)-β-glucan on venous ulcer healing

Water-insoluble glucan was isolated from the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast cells were treated with alkali and the residue then with acid. Chemical and NMR (1D and 2D) analyses showed that a linear (1→3)-β-glucan was purified that was not contaminated with other carbohydrates, proteins or phenolic compounds. The effects of the glucan on wound healing were assessed in human venous ulcers by histopathological analysis after 30 days of topical treatment. (1→3)-β-glucan enhanced ulcer healing and increased epithelial hyperplasia, as well as increased inflammatory cells, angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation. In one patient who had an ulcer that would not heal for over 15 years, glucan treatment caused a 67.8% decrease in the area of the ulcer. This is the first study to investigate the effects of (1→3)-β-glucan on venous ulcer healing in humans; our findings suggest that this glucan is a potential natural biological response modifier in wound healing.