RESUMO
@#The human immune system has a remarkable ability to distinguish between the body’s own cells, recognized as “self” and foreign cells, as “nonself”, to mediate the immune responses. Mushroom β-glucans are a large group of macromolecules that are not naturally synthesized inside the human body, so these compounds are recognized as non-self-molecules, which activate the immunity. Mushroom polysaccharides or β-glucans are thought to provide their anti-tumor action primarily through the activation of the immune response of the host organism. In most cases mushroom polysaccharides do not directly affect tumor cells. </br> Certain β-glucans from medicinal mushrooms appear to activate cell-mediated and humoral immunity via activation of different immune cells, leading to elimination of tumor cells or pathogens. The activated macrophages (containing β-glucans) preferentially attack dead cells and intracellular pathogens. These macrophages also produce cytokines that prime natural killer cells and T lymphocytes, both of which are cytotoxic to tumor cells, via different mechanisms. Natural killer cells secrete chemical substances that destroy tumor cells by bursting cell membranes. Neutrophils effectively destroy targeted cells by cell mediated phagocytosis. In this review were described the hypothesized mechanism of action for fungal β-glucans against cancer cells.
RESUMO
Objective To establish the chromatographic fingerprint of mushroom polysaccharides by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone( PMP) pre-column derivatization. Methods The mushroom polysaccharides was extracted by hot distilled water, precipitated by alcohol, and hydrolyzed into monosaccharides by Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA). The hydrolysate was derivatized with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone ( PMP ) and tested via HPLC to study the monosaccharide components in mushroom polysaccharides. Results Fingerprint was established with 13 common peaks, 6 peaks in which were identified as mannose, D-glucuronic acid, D-glucose, galactose, xylose and L-fucose. The glucose accounted for the most, followed by mannose, galactose and fucose. Conclusion Development of fingerprint chromatogram by HPLC is a stable, simple, and repeatable way, which can be applied to the quality control of mushroom polysaccharides.