Studies on the host-mediated antitumor polysaccharides. Part IX. Fractionation and characterization of antitumor polysaccharides from maitake, Grifola frondosa.

Three groups of polysaccharides from the edible mushroom "Maitake," the cultured fruiting body of Grifolafrondosa, were extracted with hot water, 3% NH4-oxalate (100°C), and 5% sodium hydroxide solution (30°C) in this order.The three fractions, FI, FII and Fill, were divided into several sub-fractions using various chromatographic techniques.The fractions with host-mediated antitumor activity were as follows: Water-soluble 0-(l -*3)-D-glucan: FI0-a-&, [