Isolation and characterization of an immunoenhancing glucan from alkaline extract of an edible mushroom, Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer

A water-soluble glucan, isolated from the alkaline extract of the fruit bodies of an edible mushroom, Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer was found to consist of (1→3,6)-linked, (1→3)-linked, (1→6)-linked, and terminal β-d-glucopyranosyl moieties in a relative proportion of approximately 1:2:1:1. This polysaccharide showed optimum activation of macrophages as well as splenocytes and thymocytes at 10 μg/mL. Structural investigation was carried out using sugar analysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation study, and NMR experiments (1H, 13C, DEPT-135, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC). On the basis of above-mentioned experiments, the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established as: