Comparison of immunological effects of commercially available β-glucans

Abstract

Biological and most of all immunological effects of natural immunomodulator glucan are already well established. However, since hundreds of individual glucans, isolated from various sources, used at different concentrations and having different physicochemical characteristics are being used, the current scientific knowledge is not complete. In addition, direct comparisons of individual glucans are quite rare. In the present paper, we tested fifteen varieties of glucans differing in source and solubility. Whereas no direct connection between source and immunological effects was found, we can conclude that the best glucans have pleiotropic effects stimulating all facets of immunological reactions, whereas other glucans have low effects or none at all. - See more at: http://www.hoajonline.com/applscirep/abstract/2054-9903/1/2#sthash.F16C2rQ8.dpuf