[Prophylactic efficacy of a basidiomycetes preparation AHCC against lethal opportunistic infections in mice]

Yakugaku Zasshi. 2000 Aug;120(8):715-9. doi: 10.1248/yakushi1947.120.8_715.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The prophylactic effects of a Basidiomycetes preparation, AHCC, against experimental opportunistic infections were investigated in leukopenic mice. In cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenic mice, oral or intraperitoneal administration of the AHCC at doses of 1000 or 50 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 4 consecutive days prior to Candida albicans infection significantly prolonged the survival periods of the infected mice, and decreased the viable counts of C. albicans cells recovered from their kidneys. Similarly, the oral treatment with AHCC protected mice from lethal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and intraperitoneal one also protected mice from infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These results suggest a potential usefulness of the AHCC as a prophylactic agent for the management of patients with opportunistic infections.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basidiomycota* / chemistry
  • Candidiasis / complications
  • Candidiasis / prevention & control*
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Leukopenia / chemically induced
  • Leukopenia / complications
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • Opportunistic Infections / prevention & control*
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / therapeutic use*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / complications
  • Pseudomonas Infections / prevention & control*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications
  • Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Polysaccharides
  • Cyclophosphamide