Natural products, useful in preventing or treating various diseases, have been sought after throughout the history of humankind. Often, these molecules suffer from the same problem - these substances usuallyrepresent a complex mixture of ingredients, each of which might contribute to biological activity. These problems, together with difficulties in patenting the isolation, usually leads to lack of interest and natural molecules are left in the area of food supplements.
However, β(1-3),(1-6)-d-glucan (hereafter β-glucan),
arguably the most studied natural immunomodulator, offers a different story.
The original studies of effects β-glucan has on the immune system focusedentirely on mice. Subsequent studies demonstrated that β-glucan possesses a
significant immunostimulating activity in a wide variety of species, including
earthworms, shrimp, fish, chicken, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, pigs,
cattle, and, last but not least, humans. Based on these results, it has been
concluded that β-glucan represents a type of immunostimulanting molecule that
is actively spanning full evolutionary spectrum. Some experiments also show
that β-glucan can help even in the protection of plants. β-Glucan is therefore
not only a biologically active polysaccharide with strong immunomodulating
effects, but is also considered to be an evolutionary very old stimulant of a
variety of defense immune reactions.
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