Structural investigation of a water-soluble glucan from an edible mushroom, Astraeus hygrometricus

A water-soluble glucan, Fraction I, was isolated from the aqueous extract of the fruit bodies of the mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus. On the basis of total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR studies (H-1, C-13, 2D-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and HSQC), the structure of the repeating unit of the glucan is determined as: [GRAPHIC] This glucan shows strong splenocyte activation. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.