Structural characterization of an immunoenhancing heteroglycan isolated from an aqueous extract of an edible mushroom, Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer

A water-soluble polysaccharide, isolated from the hot water extract of the fruiting bodies of an edible mushroom. Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer was found to contain D-galactose, L-fucose, and D-glucose in a molar ratio of nearly 1:1:5. Structural investigation of the polysaccharide was carried out using acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation study, and NMR experiments (H-1, C-13, 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: [GRAPHICS] This polysaccharide showed macrophage as well as splenocyte and thymocyte activation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.