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Abstract: Higher plants and mushrooms have been reported to be sources of antiviral activity. The study of higher fungi for antiviral activity was prompted by earlier findings that Boletus edulis and Calvatia gigantea possessed anticancer activity (LUCAS et al., 1956; LUCAS et al., 1959). It was found that extracts of several mushrooms had activity against poliomyelitis and ECHO viruses (COCHRAN and LUCAS, 1959; GOULET et al., 1960). These studies were extended to influenza virus, and antiviral activity was also found to occur in Shii-ta-ke. The high level of activity in Shii-ta-ke in experimental annimals was comparable to that of amantadine( COCHRAN et al., 1967) ;and in addition, as a cultivated mushroom Shii-ta-ke offered a ready and assured source of supply. Several groups of Japanese investigators have reported the presence in Shii-ta-ke of various biologically active substances which might account for or contribute to the antiviral activity observed in crude aqueous extracts of mature fruiting bodies. Among these is a polysaccharide, lentinan, with anti-cancer activity (CHIHARA et al., 1969), recently found to alter immune responsiveness through its action as a T-cell adjuvant (DENNERT and TUCKER, 1973). Another biologically active compound from Shii-ta-ke is eritadenine, with hypocholesterolemic activity (CHIBATA et al., 1969; KAMIYA et al., 1969; KANEDA and TOKUDA, 1966). Mycoviruses and interferon-inducing RNA have also been reported (MORI and MORI, 1976; TSUNODA and ISHIDA, 1970). While the latter components might account for antiviral activity in Shii-ta-ke, the possibility remained that other factors could contribute to the observed effect. This report describes a fraction derived from Shii-ta-ke fruiting bodies, which has marked and selective activity against orthomyxoviruses.
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