Micronucleus Test of Polycan™, ß-Glucan Originated from Aureobasidium, in Bone Marrow Cells of Male ICR Mice.

In this research the genotoxic effect of Polycan™ ß-glucans originated from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001, was evaluated using the mouse micronucleus test. Polycan™ was administered once a day for 2 days by oral gavage to male ICR mice at doses of 1000, 500 and 250 mg/kg. Cyclophosphamide was used as a known genotoxic agent in a positive control group. The appearance of a micronucleus is used as an index for genotoxic potential. The results obtained indicated that Polycan™ shows no genotoxicity effect up to 1000 mg/kg dosing levels. In addition, it is also considered that there were no problems from cytotoxicity of Polycan™ tested in this study because the polychromatic erythrocyte ratio was detected as > 0.47 in all tested groups.

Antiosteoporotic effect of Polycan, beta-glucan from Aureobasidium, in ovariectomized osteoporotic mice.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the anti-osteoporotic effects of Polycan, a beta-glucan from Aureobasidium pullulans, in ovariectomized mice at doses of 31.25, 62.5, and 125 mg/kg. METHODS: Polycan was administered orally once a day for 28 d to bilateral ovariectomized mice, beginning 4 wk after surgery. Changes in body weight, bone weight, bone mineral content, bone mineral density, failure load, histologic profiles, and histomorphometric analyses were determined, in addition to serum osteocalcin, calcium, and phosphorus levels. Alendronate was used as a reference drug. RESULTS: Polycan significantly and dose-dependently suppressed decreases in bone weight, bone mineral content, failure load, bone mineral density, and serum calcium and phosphorus levels and the increase in serum osteocalcin levels. In addition, Polycan significantly suppressed decreases in histomorphometric parameters such as volume, length, and thickness of trabecular bone and thickness of cortical bone and the increase in osteoclast cells in the femur and tibia. CONCLUSION: Although the effects of Polycan were generally modest and smaller than those of alendronate, the effects on cortical bone thickness were more favorable for Polycan than for alendronate. In addition, Polycan exhibited favorable effects on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. However, more long-term studies are needed to confirm the effects of Polycan on osteoporosis.

Effects of beta-glucan from Aureobasidium pullulans on acute inflammation in mice.

The effects of beta-glucan isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans were observed on acute xylene-induced inflammation. beta-glucan at a dose of 62.5, 125 or 250 mg/kg were administered once orally to xylene-treated mice (0.03 mL of xylene was applied on the anterior surface of the right ear to induce inflammation), and the body weight change, ear weight, histological profiles and histomorphometrical analyses of ear were conducted upon sacrifice. The xylene was topically applied 30 min after dosing with beta-glucan. The results were compared to those of diclofenac, indomethacin and dexamethasone (15 mg/kg injected once intraperitoneally). All animals were sacrificed 2 h after xylene application. Xylene application resulted in marked increases in induced ear weights compared to that of intact control ear; hence, the differences between intact and induced ear were also significantly increased. The histological characteristics of acute inflammation, such as severe vasodilation, edematous changes of skin and infiltration of inflammatory cells, were detected in xylene-treated control ears with marked increase in the thickness of the ear tissues. However, these xylene-induced acute inflammatory changes were significantly and dose-dependently decreased by beta-glucan treatment. We conclude that beta-glucan from A. pullulans has a somewhat favorable effect in the reduction of the acute inflammatory responses induced by xylene application in mice.