Effects of a protein-bound polysaccharide from a basidiomycetes against hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 3' -mthyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in rats.

Nakajima T, Ichikawa S, Uchida S, Komada T

Department of Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

PSK, extracted from mycelia of a strain of Coriolus versicolor, was administered to groups of 20 male Wistar rats before and during treatment with 3’-methyl-4.-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3-MDAB). After 24 weeks, the survival rates were significantly higher in the groups given PSK before or with the 3-MDAB than in groups not given PSK or given PSK after 12 weeks of 3-MDAB treatment. Blood alpha-fetoprotein levels, determined every four weeks, increased in all groups after 3-MDAB treatment, but were significantly lower in the groups given PSK before or with the 3-MDAB than in the other groups. The results indicate that PSK had a suppressive effect on 3 -MDAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.