AGARICUS BLAZEI MURILL EXTRACTS, METHODS FOR INHIBITING LEGUMAIN USING THE SAME, AND METHODS FOR TREATING TUMORS USING THE SAME

摘要

Extracts of Agaricus blazei Murill have been found to have anti-tumor activity. In particular, a polar, high molecular weight fraction of an Agaricus blazei Murill extract has been found which has an inhibitory effect on legumain activity. Extracts of Agaricus blazei Murill can be used in a pharmaceutical composition to inhibit cysteine protease legumain in a patient suffering from a tumor thereby treating the tumor and preventing new tumors.

主权项

1. A method for producing a polar, high molecular weight fraction of an Agaricus blazei Murill based extract, comprising:
(a) extracting a lyophilized aqueous preparation of fermented Agaricus blazei Murill with dichloromethane, to obtain a dichloromethane-insoluble material as a first residue; (b) extracting said first residue obtained in (a) with methanol to obtain a methanol-insoluble material as a second residue; (c) extracting said second residue obtained in (b) with a concentrated aqueous solution of ethanol, to obtain an ethanol-insoluble material as a third residue; (d) dissolving said third residue in water and further fractionating it by size, (e) isolating a fraction including compounds with a relatively average molecular weight of about 50 kDa, as determined using oat β-glucan standards, as the polar, high molecular weight fraction.