Abstract
Traditional Japanese medicine uses the leaves of Kumaizasa bamboo extracted in hot water at 100°C. For this study, we developed a new, ‘vigorous’ extraction method involving steps at 100, 121 and 196°C. This procedure not only yielded greater amounts of extract but also with significant increase in immunostimulating activity, which induces activation of human natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages and potent induction of IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ in tumor bearing mice. The efficacy of the extract to facilitate phagocytosis and nitric oxide production by mouse peritoneal macrophages was determined and compared with that of 1,3-β-glucan. Anti-tumor activity was evaluated in vivo in several mouse tumor models (S-180, C38 and Meth-A). Oral administration of the extracts was carried out when tumor reached size of approximately 6 mm at concentrations of 0.05% or higher. The extracts significantly suppressed tumor growth in S-180 and C38 tumor models. Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the treatment group than that of control. Activation of macrophages and NK cells by the extracts suggests that the anti-tumor efficacy of the extract is mediated by immunopotentiation. The extracts resolved into three major fractions (F-I, F-II and F-III) in Sephadex gel chromatography. Fraction F-I consists of 1,3-β-glucan and stimulated both macrophages and NK cells suggesting that it may be the primary immunopotentiating factor in suppressing cancer. Fraction F-III has potent free radical scavenging effects and may play an important role in cancer prevention. These results warrant further translation and clinical investigations.
Highlights
One of the causal factors of tumor progression is suppression of immune functions
We demonstrated the remarkable anti-tumor activity of bamboo leaf extracts obtained under vigorous high-temperature, high-pressure extraction conditions
These extracts had far superior activity than extracts obtained via the conventional hot water method, as seen in Table 1, Fig. 1 and Fig. 6C
Summary
One of the causal factors of tumor progression is suppression of immune functions. Restoring the immune competence can be one of the primary strategies of active immunotherapy. Polysaccharides from mushrooms or microbial cell-wall components were shown to be efficient. Anti-tumor activity of bamboo leaf extracts undertaking further translational and clinical investigation with the bamboo leaf extracts for treatment of cancer
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