[The antiinflammatory and immunostimulating activities of S-4001--a polysaccharide isolated from Lei Wan (Polyporus mylitiae)].

Lei Wan, Poliporus mylittae Cook et Mass (Omphalia lapidescens Schraet) is a kind of fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, as an anthelminthic. From Lei Wan, an active component designated as S-4001 had been isolated. Preliminary results indicate that S-4001 belongs to D, beta, 1-3 glucan with some 1-6 linkages. After administration of S-4001, significant antiinflammatory activity was found in various experimental animal models, including croton oil induced ear edema in mice and agar or yeast induced ankle swelling in rats. An inhibitory action on leucocyte migration induced by intraperitoneal injection of CMC in rats was also observed. The plasma content of corticosterone was significantly increased, but the content of ascorbic acid in the adrenals did not change in rats given S-4001. Apart from these actions, S-4001 showed a number of immunostimulating actions such as increasing the clearance of Congo red from mice blood and potentiating the immunohemolysis reaction in 615 mice.