Anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of Ganoderma parvulum-derived polysaccharides

Polysaccharides have gained considerable attention recently because of their anti-tumor and immunoregulatory properties. Its activity depends on the type of fungus that produces it, the extraction method, and the molecular weight.

This study evaluated the anti-tumor and immunoregulatory properties of Ganoderma parvulum (GP)-derived polysaccharides.

GP crude polysaccharides inhibited mice's lymphoma without cytotoxicity. In vitro studies showed that exopolysaccharides (GEPS) and intrapolysaccharides (GIPS) of G. parvulum inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells, but no cell death was observed. Significantly, GEPS and GIPS increased the production of nitric oxide, TNF-α, MCP-1, and an increase in IL-1β, IL-18, and Caspase-1, while NLRP3 was down-regulated. Also, it decreases the production of IL-10 and IL-6.

These observations suggest that GP-derived polysaccharides may exert anti-tumor activity primarily by activating the host's immune system via macrophage stimulation.