Role of beta-glucans in the prevention of mammary tumorigenesis.

OBIOL, D.; ALONSO, E.; FERMENTO, E.; BALOGH, G.

Rosario

Congreso; II Reunión Internacional de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, (RICIFA).; 2012

Since the beginning fungi and man are closely related each other. Mushroom consumption in Asia is due to its traditional culinary and medicinal interest. Grifola frondosa (Maitake) mushroom has been collected for thousands of years in Japan, Korea, China and Russia. In 1998, Dr Nanba identified a fraction obtained from both mycelium and fructified body of Maitake with the ability to stimulate macrophages. Epidemiological studies in Asia have shown that consumption of mushrooms specifically protects against breast and gastrointestinal cancer. The called D Fraction is a complex of polysaccharides (beta-1,6-glucans and beta-1,3-glucans) with high molecular weight about 1,000,000 daltons. D Fraction induces activation of macrophages, neutrophils and NK cells. In this work, we were interested into study the following aims: Determine if D Fraction obtained from the edible and medicinal mushroom Grifola frondosa can prevents or delay mammary tumor development in BALB/c mice. Compare the antitumor efficacy of different degrees of purification of the fraction D were our objective as well.