Planta Med 2014; 80 - P1N22
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394612

Quality control of medicinal mushrooms: Comparison of different methods for the quantification of polysaccharides/β-Glucans

S Merdivan 1, P Bettin 1, M Preisitsch 1, U Lindequist 1
  • 1Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany

Mushrooms are widely used as food or for medicinal purposes but nearly no directives for the examination of the pharmaceutical quality of mushrooms and their preparations exist. To advance the use as pharmaceuticals, established methods for the control of pharmaceutical quality are essential [1]. As β-Glucans are held responsible for many useful effects of mushrooms, methods for quantification of polysaccharides/β-Glucans to test raw materials and/or products could be profitable. In the present study different methods have been subject to comparison: The Anthron-method and related methods for the quantification of polysaccharides and the Aniline blue fluorescence and Congo red method as well as the K-YBGL- (Megazyme®) and Glucatell®-testkit for the quantification of β-Glucans. Influence of adulterations and additives, like modified cellulose (HPMC), starch and ascorbic acid was also investigated. Extracts of Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) with or without aforementioned additives were used as test material. From the group of methods which for a basic principle have a reaction with Furfurals, the Anthron method showed the most satisfying results and used to be a cheap, precise and fast method. For the testing of Glucan-contents, the Aniline blue fluorescence method exhibited high specifity for β-Glucans and is said to be specific for single-helical β-(1,3)-Glucans (information about 3D-structure). A permanent quality control of mushroom products should include a combination of the Anthron- and the Aniline blue fluorescence method together with microscopy and simple chemical reactions (e.g. detection of starch or cellulose with iodine-zinc chloride solution). Further studies with other bioactive components and the enquiry of validation parameters are required to attain suitable methods for the control of the pharmaceutical quality of mushrooms and belonging preparations. Besides, investigation of preconditions [2] for the biological effects of β-Glucans is indispensable.

Keywords: quality control, Anthron-method, Anilineblue-Fluorescence-method, Congo-Red-method, mushroom

References:

[1] Lindequist U. The Merit of Medicinal Mushrooms from a Pharmaceutical Point of View. Int J Med Mushrooms 2013; 15: 517 – 523.

[2] Barsanti L, Passarelli V, Evangelista V, Frassanito A M, Gualtieri P. Chemistry, physico-chemistry and applications linked to biological activities of β-glucans. Nat Prod Rep 2011; 28: 457 – 466.