In vivo immunological activity of carboxymethylated-sulfated (1→3)-β-D-glucan from sclerotium of Poria cocos.

β-Glucans are one of the polysaccharides known as biological response modifiers extracted from the sclerotium of Poria cocos which has been used for several decades as Traditional Chinese Medicine. Due to its ability to activate immune system, it can be applied in chemotherapy after being chemically modified. In this study, sulfated (1→3)-β-D-glucan (S-P), carboxymethyl (1→3)-β-D-glucan (CMP), and carboxymethylated-sulfated (1→3)-β-D-glucan (S-CMP), which are (1→3)-β-D-glucan derivatives were synthesized. The current study was aimed to investigate in vivo potential immunological activity of S-CMP in mice. In addition, mice were separately treated with S-P, CMP and S-CMP to evaluate the relationship between single and multiple functional groups. Interestingly, S-CMP exhibited the best in vivo immunological activities and the highest inhibition rate against the implanted HepG2 tumor in BALB/c mice, with significant increase in serum hemolysin antibody titer, spleen antibody production as well as delayed type hypersensitivity compared with S-P and CMP. Furthermore, it was assumed that simultaneous introduction of carboxymethyl and sulfate groups also had great potential effect on antioxidant activity, as substantial decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) content was remarked. Therefore, it may suggest that S-CMP has better immunological and anti-tumor effects on mice in vivo.