Effect of Intracellular and Extracellular Mushroom Polysaccharides on Growth Inhibition of Human Carcinoma Cell Lines

: Introduction : Mushroom polysaccharides play an important role in nutraceutical and functional food because they act as biological active modifiers. The aim of the present work involved the production, purification and partial characterization of intracellular (IPS) and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) from several basidiomycete strains . Such polysaccharides were used to investigate their effect on growth of human carcinoma cell lines. Methods : Mushroom polysaccharides were produced from several basidiomycete strains by submerged and solid state fermentations, assayed for superoxide radical scavenging activity, purified by gel filtration chromatography, analysed by FTIR and their effect on human carcinoma cell line was investigated by MTT method. Results : Mushroom polysaccharides have revealed scavenging activity in the range of 22 – 81 % for Po (s) and Pe (2), respectively. FTIR analysis of polysaccharides showed absorption bands characteristics of these biological macromolecules. IPS inhibited cell growth of HeLa in the range of 16.8 – 27.01 % for Po (s) and Ga (1), respectively. EPS inhibited cell growth of HeLa, A459, A431 and OE21 in the ranges of 3.08 – 92.2 %, 13.8 – 97.4 %, 14.7 – 93. 8% and 25 – 94% for Il (1) and Ga (1), Gc (1) and Ga (1), Il (1) and Ga (1), Le (1) and Ga (1), respectively. Purified preparations of polysaccharides confirmed the growth inhibition of these biomolecules. Conclusion : The present results strongly suggest growth inhibition of human carcinoma cell lines by mushroom polysaccharides and it will require a future research to understand its molecular mechanism of action.