Chemical analysis of a new (1→3)-, (1→6)-branched glucan from an edible mushroom, Pleurotus florida

Physiological activities of a beta-glucan produced by Panebacillus polymyxa

In vitro bioactivities of a beta-glucan produced by Panebacillus polymyxa JB115 were investigated. Nitric oxide production by RAW 264.7 macrophage cells pre-treated with beta-glucan JB115 (from 0.1 to 1 mg ml(-1)) was significantly increased, compared to that in untreated cells (P < 0.001). The beta-glucan JB115 increased superoxide radical-scavenging activity by 66% at 1 mg ml(-1). It also suppressed hyaluronidase (32%) and collagenase (33%) activities and, additionally, displayed antitumor activity, blocking the growth of Sarcoma 180 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The immune-stimulatory, antioxidant, collagenase inhibitory and hyaluronidase inhibitory effects of the beta-glucan support its potential role in the prevention of bacterial disease against fish and in the protection of skin against aging.

Unusual partially 3-O-methylated alpha-galactan from mushrooms of the genus Pleurotus

Indistinguishable partially 3-O-methylated galactans were isolated from the edible basidiomycetes Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus ostreatoroseus. They were obtained via successive aqueous extraction, freeze-thawing, precipitation with Fehling solution of soluble material, and ultrafiltration. Mono- and bidimensional 13C and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HMBC, HETEROTOCSY, COSY, and HMQC), and methylation analysis were used to determine their structures. They were linear, partially 3-O-methylated, (1-->6)-linked alpha-d-galactans containing Gal and 3-Me-Gal, in a 3:1 molar ratio (GC-MS of alditol acetates).

Alternative medium for production of Pleurotus ostreatus biomass and potential antitumor polysaccharides

Pleurotus species are recognized for producing beta-glucans with important medicinal properties as a constituent of the cellular wall of the fruiting body or of the mycelium. The aims of this work were to select a culture medium that maximized the production of biomass and polysaccharides produced by Pleurotus ostreatus DSM 1833 and to evaluate the selected medium in two values of initial oxygen transfer rate -K(L)a (10.2 and 19.3 h(-1)). A 2* *4 factorial design was constructed to evaluate the supplementation of wheat extract with corn steep liquor--CSL (10 or 20 g L(-1)), yeast extract--YE (2 or 5gL(-1)), ammonium sulfate--AS (0 or 5 g L(-1)) and glucose (20 or 40 g L(-1)). In terms of maximum productivity in biomass and global productivity in polysaccharides, the best values were obtained when 5 g L(-1) of YE and 40 g L(-1) of glucose were used. In terms of maximum concentration of biomass, the best results were obtained when 20 g L(-1) of CSL and 40 g L(-1) of glucose were used. The best results in terms of production of biomass and polysaccharides were achieved when lower initial K(L)a (10.2 h(-1)) was used.

Structural analysis of a water-soluble glucan (Fr.I) of an edible mushroom, Pleurotus sajor-caju

A water-soluble glucan was obtained from the fruit bodies of an edible mushroom, Pleurotus sajor-caju, by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, dialysis, and Sepharose 6B gel filtration. On the basis of total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and HSQC), the structure of the repeating unit of the glucan is determined as [carbohydrate structure: see text].

The structure of a polysaccharide from Fraction-II of an edible mushroom, Pleurotus florida

A water-soluble polysaccharide was isolated from Fraction-II of the aqueous extract of the fruit bodies of the mushroom, Pleurotus florida. Compositional analysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation study, Smith degradation, and NMR studies (1H, 13C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) revealed the presence of the following repeating unit in the polysaccharide: [structure: see text].

Isolation and structural characterization of an immunostimulating polysaccharide from fuzi, Aconitum carmichaeli

A water-soluble polysaccharide named as FPS-1 was isolated from fuzi, the root of Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. by hot-water extraction, anion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography and tested for its pharmacological activities. Its structural characteristics were investigated by FTIR, HPLC, NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis and GLC-MS. Based on the data obtained, FPS-1 was determined to be an alpha-(1-->6)-d-glucan, with a weight-average molecular weight of about 14,000Da. The glucan is highly branched with a single glucose at the C-3 position every four residues, on average, along the main chain. In immunopharmacological studies, FPS-1 showed potent stimulating effects on murine lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide both in vitro and in vivo as well as on splenocyte antibody production.