Extraction, purification, characterization and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum

Ultrasonic-aid extraction (UAE) was applied to the extraction of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum and then the crude polysaccharides were purified by filtration, DEAE cellulose-52 chromatography and Sephadex G-100 size-exclusion chromatography in that order. Two main fractions, GP-1 and GP-2, were obtained through the extraction and purification steps. The characterizations, such as molecular weight, monosaccharides composition, ultraviolet spectrum and infrared spectrum of the two fractions were analyzed in this study. Furthermore, the influence of G. lucidum polysaccharides fractions upon activation of macrophage cell (RAW 264.7) and antitumor activities to the human breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231) in vitro were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. The results indicated that GP-1 and GP-2 can increase the proliferation and pinocytic activity of macrophage significantly and play an inhibited effect on the cancer cell, moreover, the antitumor activity of the GP-1 and GP-2 increased with the participation of the antitumor factors induced from macrophage by polysaccharides fractions.