Polysaccharides in Fungi. XXV. Biological Activities of Two Galactomannans from the Insect-Body Portion of Chan hua (Fungus : Cordyceps cicadae)

Abstract

Biological activities of two galactomannans (CI-P and CI-A) isolated from the insectbody portion of Chan hua (fungus : Cordyceps cicadae) were studied. CI-P having low affinity for concanavalin A (Con A) exhibited potent carbon-clearance activity in mouse, although both polysaccharides had little antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 in mice. Furthermore, CI-P and CI-A was found to have potent hypoglycemic activity in normal mice, and CI-A having high affinity for Con A showed slightly higher activity than CI-P.