Antiherpetic mechanism of a sulfated derivative of Agaricus brasiliensis fruiting bodies polysaccharide.

Objective: To study the anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV) activity of a (1→6)-(1→3)-β-D-glucan isolated from Agaricus brasiliensis fruiting bodies (FR) as well as its chemically sulfated derivative (FR-S).

Methods: The antiherpetic activity and mechanism of action was studied by viral plaque assay applying different methodological strategies.

Results: Although FR presented no in vitro antiherpetic action at 1 mg/ml, FR-S displayed promising anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2 activities in both simultaneous and postinfection treatments, resulting in selectivity indices (CC₅₀/EC₅₀) higher than 393.

Antiherpetic activity of a sulfated polysaccharide from Agaricus brasiliensis mycelia.

Sulfated polysaccharides are good candidates for drug discovery in the treatment of herpetic infections. Agaricus brasiliensis (syn A. subrufescens, A.

Structural characterization of beta-glucans of Agaricus brasiliensis in different stages of fruiting body maturity and their use in nutraceutical products.

beta-Glucans of Agaricus brasiliensis fruiting bodies in different stages of maturity were isolated and characterized by FTIR and NMR. These fractions had greater amount of (1-->6)-beta-glucan and the (1-->3)-beta-glucan increased with fruiting bodies maturation. Yields of beta-glucans increased from 42 mg beta-glucans g(-1) fruiting bodies (dry wt) in immature stage to 43 mg g(-1) in mature stage with immature spores, and decreased to 40 mg g(-1) in mature stage with spore maturation.