Abstract
In this study the absorption, the excretion, the antitumor effect and the inhibitory effect of water-soluble fraction (LEM) prepared from culture medium of Lentinus edodes mycelia against colonic tumors induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in rats were revealed. LEM was excreted in the urine soon after intravenous administration and absorbed from the intestinal mucosa after enteral administration. LEM suppressed the growth of AH60C implanted subcutaneously in rats and BAMC-1 in mice. LEM normalized the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity of spleen cells in AH60C-bearing rats. In vivo LEM augmented the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in normal mice, but didn't in vitro.
LEM inhibited the number of colonic tumors induced by AOM especially at the distal colon but didn't significantly suppress the growth of tumor. LEM was more effective on the enteral administration than the intraperitoneal route.
LEM normalized the changes of serum protein in rats treated with AOM.
It was suggested that the anti-tumor effect of LEM was host-dependent and that LEM could be used for prevention of human colonic carcinoma.
