Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides enhance the function of immunological effector cells in immunosuppressed mice

J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 May 4;111(2):219-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.11.013. Epub 2006 Nov 21.

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine in vivo efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS) for enhancing the activity of immunological effector cells in immunosuppressed mice. Mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) once daily with low-dose (2.5mg/kg), intermediate-dose (25mg/kg), and high-dose (250 mg/kg) of Gl-PS, respectively, for 7 consecutive days 24h after i.p. injection of a immunosuppressing anti-tumor agent cyclophosphamide (Cy, 300 mg/kg). In Cy-treated mice, compared to vehicle, low-dose Gl-PS accelerated recovery of bone marrow cells, red blood cells and white blood cells, as well as splenic natural killer cells and natural killer T cells, and enhanced T and B cell proliferation responses on day 8, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity on day 5, as well as NK cell and lymphokine activated killer cell activity on days 7-9. Furthermore, it promoted phagocytosis and cytotoxicity of macrophages on day 12. The above beneficial effects induced by the low-dose Gl-PS treatment did not result in any side effects. These results demonstrate the efficacious effects of low-dose Gl-PS treatment for enhancing the activity of immunological effector cells in immunosuppressed mice, and may provide a basis for applying this herb as an efficacious adjacent immunopotentiating therapy against cancer chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Cyclophosphamide / toxicity
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
  • Erythrocyte Count
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / toxicity
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / cytology
  • Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Polysaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Polysaccharides / adverse effects
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Reishi / chemistry*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / physiology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Mitogens
  • Polysaccharides
  • Concanavalin A
  • Cyclophosphamide