Studies on Constituents of the Higher Fungi of Korea (LIV) Antitumor Components of Favolus alveolarius

To find antitumor components from the higher fungi of Korea, the mycelia of Favolus alveolarius (Fr.) Quelet were cultured in a liquid medium. The cultured mycelia were extracted with hot water twice, and a high molecular weight fraction was obtained by adding two volumes of ethanol to the extract. Two grams of Fraction A were obtained by dialyzing it. It was further separated into four fractions by gel filtration with Sepharose CL-4B, and they were designated Fractions B, C, D, and E. The results of the antitumor test showed that Fractions A, B, C, D and E had tumor inhibition ratios of 92.3, 78.5, 59.6, 77.4 and 62.2%, respectively. Anthrone test was carried out to determine the contents of total polysaccharide of the five fractions, and they had 46.3, 27.3, 65.3, 64.6, and 46.1%, respectively. The contents of the total protein of the five fractions were 29.4, 13.9, 14.3, 14.3, and 29.1%, respectively. Monosaccharide subunits of each fraction were analyzed with gas chromatography, and glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose and fucose were identified. Fraction A was examined for immunological effects. It increased the count of hemolytic plaque forming cells 12.8 times to that of the control group, and the population of macrophage in peritoneal cavity 3.2 times to that of the control group.