A bioactive (1→3)-, (1→4)-β-d-glucan from Collybia dryophila and other mushrooms

Abstract

Polysaccharides from higher Basidiomycete mushrooms, mainly β-d-glucans, are considered to be potent bioactive fungal compounds. In this study a β-glucan (1.237 × 10⁶ Da) consisting of (1→ 3) and (1→ 4) glucosidic linkages, named Collybia dryophila polysaccharide (CDP), was extracted from the wild mushroom C. dryophila. CDP was shown to strongly inhibit nitric oxide production in activated macrophages suggesting that this polysaccharide displays a potential anti-inflammatory activity. In addition it was shown that polysaccharides similar to CDP (CDP-like) are present in Lentinus edodes and different wild mushrooms collected in northeastern North America.

• anti-inflammatory activity
• higher Basidiomycetes
• Lentinus edodes
• Marasmius oreades
• polysaccharides

We thank Maurice Thibault for collecting the wild mushrooms, Dr Carole Martinez for her assistance and Dr Tyler Avis for critical review of the manuscript. This research was supported by Conseil de Recherche en Agriculture, Pêche et Alimentation du Québec (CORPAQ).