Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide on transplanted H22 tumor in mice and its mechanism. Methods: H22 tumor bearing mouse models were established by transplanting H22 tumor into normal mice. Seventy mice were divided at random into normal control group consisting of 10 mice and other 5 groups of 12 mice each: model, positive control, and low, medium and high-dose Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide groups (at doses of 50, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively). Each mouse received intragastric administration for 10 consecutive days. The positive control group was administered intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide every other day. After the last administration, all mice were killed and the tumor growth inhibition rate, and spleen and thymus indices were calculated. Moreover, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interlekin-2 (IL-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by ELISA method, and the number of WBC and albumin level were also detected. Results: The tumor growth inhibitory rate of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide was higher than 26%. Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide significantly increased thymus index, elevated the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2, reduced VEGF level in tumor tissue, and increased serum albumin. The number of WBC in the Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide groups was not significantly different from the normal control group, but significantly higher than the positive control group. Conclusion: Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide has significant anti-tumor effect on transplanted H22 tumor in mice. The possible mechanisms may be related to the regulation of immune function and anti-angiogenetic function in tumor tissue.

Key words: Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide, anti-tumor, cytokine, VEGF