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Sweden. The found that "beta-glucan mediates an increase in bile Further evidence of rapid wound healing was shown by acid excretion, which most probably explains the effect of oat Browder et al. on wounds made in rats. The authors stated that fibre in lowering serum lipids". wound "breaking strength was significantly increased by intra- Researchers from the University of Ottawa, Canada, went fur- venous glucan and topical glucan on the fourth day after incision, ther and designed a randomised clinical trial to determine whether — compared with controls".* it was the presence beta-1,3D-glucan in oat bran that was respon- Similarly, Portera et al. state that "Immunomodulators that sible for oat bran's cholesterol-lowering effect. The results of the enhance macrophage function have been shown to be beneficial in clinical trials were quite clear, that "the main component of the sol- a number of wound-healing models in humans".” uble fibre of oats, beta-glucan, significantly reduced the total and LDL cholesterol levels of hyperc- AIDS THERAPY holesterolaemic adults without As mentioned, the simple changing HDL cholesterol".* carbohydrate beta-1,3D- This means that beta-1,3D-glucan glucan can be extracted lowered the "bad" type of choles- .the simple carbohydrate from a variety of natural terol without lowering levels of sources. Lentinan is a beta- the "good" cholesterol. beta-1 »3D-glucan can be extracted 1,3D-glucan isolated from Lipid levels in the blood are of from a variety of natural sources. the shiitake mushroom, critical importance to those with Lentinus edodes. diabetes, so researchers in Early-stage clinical trials Switzerland investigated the Lentinan is a beta-1 3D-glucan have been carried out at San effect of beta-1,3D-glucan on . ie, Francisco General Hospital, diabetic patients. They conclud- isolated from the shiitake mushroom, USA. Gordon et al. wrote ed that "Diabetic individuals can i that "patients in the study benefit from diets that are high in Lentinus edodes. have shown a trend toward beta-glucan".* increases in CD4 cells and, in some patients, neutrophil WOUND HEALING activity"; however, because Beta-1,3D-glucan has been of the small number of investigated for its effect on accelerating wound healing in ani- patients, these values do not have statistical significance. Yet in mals. Researchers made identical cuts on each of the rear legs of _ their conclusion they noted that "a trial of lentinan in combination animals. Beta-glucan was applied to one leg and a saline treat- with didanosine (ddI) showed a mean increase of 142 CD4 ment was applied to the other leg. They wrote that "During the cells/mm’ over a twelve-month period, in contrast to a decrease in days when the differences were most obvious, 60% to 80% of the | CD4 cells in patients on ddI alone".” animals showed more advanced healing in the glucan-treated According to G. Chihara from Teikyo University, Kawasaki, wound" and concluded that "the average time for complete wound —_ Japan, beta-1,3D-glucans derived from lentinan "increased host healing was reduced by about 18% as a result of glucan treat- resistance to various kinds of bacterial, viral and parasitic infec- ment". Histological analysis showed that "the acceleration of tions including AIDS" and "are the most appropriate drugs to pre- wound healing was mediated by early arrival of macrophages to vent cancer recurrence or the manifestation of AIDS symptoms in the wound area in the glucan-treated wounds".” HIV carriers" .“' Further evidence of rapid wound healing was shown by Browder et al. on wounds made in rats. The authors stated that wound "breaking strength was significantly increased by intra- venous glucan and topical glucan on the fourth day after incision, compared with controls".* Similarly, Portera et al. state that "Immunomodulators that enhance macrophage function have been shown to be beneficial in a number of wound-healing models in humans".” ..the simple carbohydrate beta-1,3D-glucan can be extracted from a variety of natural sources. Lentinan is a beta-1,3D-glucan isolated from the shiitake mushroom, Endnotes 6. Carrow, D.J. Beta-1,3-glucan as a Primary 11. Bogwald, J., Johnson, E. and Seljelid, R. 1. Czop, J.K., Valiante, N.M. and Janusz,M.J. Immune Activator. US Patent No. 5,504,079, The cytotoxic effect of mouse macrophages (Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1996. stimulated in vitro by a beta-1,3-D-glucan Massachusetts). Phagocytosis of particulate 7. Spiros, J. Method for immune system acti- from yeast cell walls. Scand. J. Immunol. activators of the human alternative comple- vation by administration of beta (1-3) glucan March 1982; 15(3):297-304. ment pathway through monocyte beta-glucan which is produced by Saccharomyces v ere- 12. Di Luzio, N.R., Williams, D.L., receptors. Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 1989; visiae strain R4. Townsend Letter for Doctors, McNamee, R.B. and Malshet, V.G. 297:287-96. June 1996. Comparative evaluation of the tumor inhibito- 2. op. cit. 8. Morikawa, K., Takeda, M., Yamazaki, M. ry and antibacterial activity of solubilized and 3. Inai et al. Activation of the Alternative and Mizuno, D. Induction of tumoricidal particulate glucan. Recent Results. Cancer Complement Pathway by Water-Insoluble activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes bya Res. 1980; 75:165-72. Glucans of Streptococcus mutans: the linear 8-1,3-D-glucan and other immunomodu- 13. Di Luzio, NR., McNamee, R.B., . Relation between their Chemical Structures lators in murine cells. Cancer Res. 45:1496- Williams, D.L., Gilbert, K.M. and Spanjers, and Activating Potencies. Journal of 1501. M.A. Induced inhibition of tumor growth and Immunology 1976; 117:1256-1260. 9. Olson, E.J., Standing, J.E., Griego-Harper, enhancement of survival in a variety of trans- 4, Goldman, R. Characteristics of the B-glu- N., Hoffman, O.A. and Limper, A.H. Fungal plantable and spontaneous waiinte tumor can Receptor of Murine Macrophages. Exp. beta-glucan interacts with vitronectin an models) Ady. Exp. Med. Biol. 1980; Cel. Res. 1988; 174:481-490. stimulates tumor necrosis factor alpha release 121(A):269-90. . . 5. Sakai, T., Ikegami, K., Yoshinaga, E., from macrophages. Infect. Immun. Sept 1996; 14. Aoki, T. Lentinan. Chapter 4 mM Uesugi-Hayakawa, R. and Wakizaka, A. 64(9):3548-54. Modulation Agents and their Mechanism (Richard L. Fenichel, ed.), Marcel Dekker, Rapid, sensitive and simple detection of candi- 10. Yadomae, T. (Laboratory for Inc., New York and Basel, 1984, pp. 63-77. Gh Gee mycosis by exiitectiten of HS ribo- Immunopharmacology of Riftsretivt ra ucts, 15. Seljelid, R.A. Water-soluble aminated somal RNA gene; comparison with assay of School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of beta-1.3D-slucan derivative causes resression serum beta-D-glucan level in clinical samples. | Pharmacy and Life Science, Japan), Yakugaku rs Ses Testes Tohoku J. Exp. Med. Feb 2000; 190(2):119-28. Zasshi May 2000; 120(5):413-31. Continued on page 38 NEXUS - 37 Lentinus edodes. FEBRUARY — MARCH 2001