Lei Wan, Poliporus mylittae Cook et Mass (Omphalia lapidescens Schraet) is a kind of fungus used in
traditional Chinese medicine, as an anthelminthic. From Lei Wan, an active component designated as
S-4001 had been isolated. Preliminary results indicate that
S-4001 belongs to D, beta, 1-3
glucan with some 1-6 linkages. After administration of
S-4001, significant antiinflammatory activity was found in various experimental animal models, including
croton oil induced ear
edema in mice and
agar or yeast induced ankle swelling in rats. An inhibitory action on leucocyte migration induced by
intraperitoneal injection of CMC in rats was also observed. The plasma content of
corticosterone was significantly increased, but the content of
ascorbic acid in the adrenals did not change in rats given
S-4001. Apart from these actions,
S-4001 showed a number of immunostimulating actions such as increasing the clearance of
Congo red from mice blood and potentiating the immunohemolysis reaction in 615 mice.