[Studies on difference between sporoderm-broken and nonbroken spores of Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. by polysaccharide analysis].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the release ability of water-soluble polysaccharides in sporoderm-broken and nonbroken spores of Ganoderma lucidum, and establish a comparatively correct method for the determination and analysis of polysaccharide contents in Chinese herbs.


METHODS
The release ability of water-soluble polysaccharides was determined on the basis of phenol-sulfuric acid modification in different conditions.


RESULTS
The release ability of polysaccharides of sporoderm-broken spores was much greater than that of nonbroken spores; and the phenol-sulfuric acid modified cation method proved excellent in accuracy and reproducibility, with a relative error less than 1.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The spores should be wall-wracked if used as a nutriment, or for extraction and analysis of their effective components. The method can be successfully used for the determination of polysaccharide contents in Chinese herbs or nutriments.
Bao
X F
XF
Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Academia Sinica, Shanghai 200031, China.
Fang
J N
JN
D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D011208:Powders; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods
D011134:Polysaccharides; D011208:Powders