ANTICANCER EFFECT OF POLYSACCHARIDE FRACTION PREPARED FROM BAMBOO GRASS

Tumor-inhibiting activity of a polysaccharide fraction prepared from bamboo grass has been tested against a number of well-established mouse tumors. The most significant results were obtained with 100-200mg/kg doses of the polysaccharide fraction on subcutaneous tumors without toxic symptoms. In sarcoma-180, inhibition ratio was 98% and in Ehrlich carcinoma it was 94%. The injections had no effect on takes or growth of the tumor for the first 9 days after implantation. Between 17th and 29th day after implantation there were many complete regressions when treatment was started 1 or 5 days after implantation. Ascites tumors and Friend virus disease were not affected. The mechanism of action of this substance does not appear to be the same as that involved in tumor destruction by bacterial polysaccharides reported previously, because tumor resorption and necrosis occurred without hemorrhage and the ascites tumor was not affected.