title: Analysis of the Chemical Constituents of Agaricus brasiliensis.
abstract: This study examined the chemical composition of A. blasiliensis and the chemical structural properties of an immuno-stimulating polysaccharide. The amino acids, free sugars, and organic acids by HPLC and fatty acids by GC were analyzed. The immuno-stimulating substance from A. blasiliensis was extracted with hot water and purified by ethanol precipitation. It underwent ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 65F. Through GP-HPLC, the substance was found to be homogeneous. Its chemical structure was determined by (13)C-NMR. Fatty acids, organic acids, and sugar alcohol composition consisted exclusively of linoleic acid, fumaric acid and mannitol, respectively. The amino acids were mainly glutamic acid, glycine, and arginine. By (13)C-NMR analysis, the immuno-stimulating substance was identified as β-(1→3) (1→6)-glucan, composed of a backbone with (1→3)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues branching a (1→6)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residue. The β-glucan from A. blasiliensis showed pronounced immuno-stimulating activity on the antibody-production ability of B-lymphocytes by the hemolytic suspension assay. In these results, A. blasiliensis was estimated to have potent pharmacological properties and potential nutritional values.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, R.D.A. Suwon 441-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Muk
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kab-Yeul
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hong Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Agaricus blasiliensis; Chemical composition; Immuno-stimulating substance