Antitumor activity of protein-bound polysaccharide from Cordyceps ophioglossoides in mice

The effects of protein-bound polysaccharide (SN-C) extracted from Cordyceps ophioglossoides on the growth of transplanted allogeneic and syngeneic murine tumors were studied. SN-C given by intraperitoneal administration suppressed the growth of sarcoma-180 transplanted subcutaneously in mice. Intraperitoneal administration of SN-C also caused a significant prolongation of the life span of ICR mice inoculated intraperitoneally with Ehrlich carcinoma, and C3H/He mice inoculated intraperitoneally with a syngeneic tumor (X-5563). SN-C showed a significant cytocidal effect on cultured tumor cells. SN-C did not affect delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in normal mice, but restored the depressed capacity to raise DTH in tumor-bearing mice. These results suggested that SN-C may exert both direct and host-mediated antitumor effects.