Antitumor and Hypoglycemic Activities of Polysaccharides from the Sclerotia and Mycelia of Inonotus obliquus (Pers.: Fr.) Pil. (Aphyllophoromycetideae)

Protein-containing polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus (Chaga), sclerotia and mycelia were extracted and partially purified. They were examined as potential inhibitors of the cell cycle regulatory enzymes cdc25 and cdc2/cyclin B and for their hypoglycemic effect, and the following results were obtained. The enzyme inhibitory activity and the hypoglycemic effects in normal mice were detected in both water-soluble and water-insoluble polysaccharides. The active principles were β-glucan, heteroglucan, and their protein complexes. No clear antienzymic traits were recognized by polysaccharides prepared from mycelia, but the hypoglycemic effect maintained for 3−48 h by the injection was recognized.