Anti-cancer effect of polysaccharides isolated from higher basidiomycetes mushrooms

This article is written in memory of Professor Takashi Mizuno who died in May 2000. He had focused a lifetime of research upon development of various antitumor substances from medicinal mushrooms, and is considered one of the 20 century greatest scientist in his field. Mizuno proved that many polysaccharides with antitumor and immunopotentiating qualities were synthesised in cultured mycelia no less and in fact often better than in fruiting bodies. This result virtually revolutionised mushroom producing and processing business. “Medicine and food both originate from the same root” is a Japanese proverb Mizuno often quoted. Minireview