To find antitumor components from higher fungi, the cultured mycelia of Calvatia craniformis were extracted with hot water, The water soluble fraction was purified and separated by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography, Sepharose CL-4Bgel
filtration method and Con A Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The separated fractions were designated A, B, C, D, E and F. The tumor inhibition ratio of these six fractions was 41.7-74.1% at the dose of 10mg/kg/day or 20mg/kg/day for 10 days.
Fr.
F(β-from) showed highest antitumor activity among the six fractions. When Fr. D was examined for immunopotentiation activity, it increased the amount of the superoxide anion from activated macrophages to 1.4 fold and the number of plaques in
hemolytic
plque assay to 3.1 fold, respectively. These results indicate that the antitumor activity was exerted through immunopotentiation. Its chemical analysis showed 87.2% polysaccharide, 1.9% protein and 1.3% hexosamine. The polysaccharide consisted of
glucose, galactose, mannose and xylose. Molecular weight of Fr. D was found to be 55,000 dalton. This was named calvatan.
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