This research screened and identified the saprobic fungal mushrooms in order to analyze for amount of beta-glucan. Fresh mushroom samples were collected from Dongyai forest, Umnatchareon Province, Thailand. All samples were inoculated on agar media to get the fungal spore shooting. The isolated fungi were cultivated in enriched liquid media to obtain fungal mycelium, which then was subjected to enzymatic extraction of beta-glucan. Megazyme Beta-Glucan Assay Kit was used for quantitative analysis of extracted beta-glucan. THP-1 monocyte was used as a model for anti-inflammation property of beta-glucan. From 497 collected mushroom samples, 93 isolates were identified as the saprobic fungi and used for further study. All of them grew well on both agar and liquid media, however, showed different levels of beta-glucan. Among those, the mycelium of Auricularia polytricha (RSPG00622) in liquid media resulted in highest beta-glucan content. Beta-glucan from this strain was enzymatically extracted to 50-60% purity. It was also proved to possess the immune-modulating property on THP-1 monocytes against the inflammation by Escherichia coli LPS.
Vaithanomsat, P., et al. (2019). “Extraction of fungal mycelium beta-glucan- a source for immunomodulator.” International Journal of Science and Innovative Technology 2(1): 18-25.