GB1356449A - Process for extracting water soluble components of the hyphae of edible fungi - Google Patents

Abstract

1356449 Extracts of edible fungi C IIZUKA and C FUMOTO 23 July 1971 [30 Dec 1970 17 May 1971 30 June 1971[ 34644/71 Heading A5B The water-soluble components of the hyphae of an edible fungus useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, tonsilitis, colds, vesicular eczema and stomach cancer, are extracted by cultivating the hyphae of the edible fungus (preferably shiitake) in a prepared culture medium comprising one or more solid nutrients for the edible fungus such as bagasse, sawdust, log and/or rice bran, reducing the hyphae and the culture medium to fine particles approximately at the time when the hyphae begin fruiting, forming an aqueous suspension of the fine particles, and filtering the suspension to remove undesirable matter therefrom and to provide an aqueous solution of an extract of the edible fungus. The hyphae culture may be subjected to a rapid reduction in temperature and/or a change in humidity such as to accelerate the growth of the hyphae, e.g. the culture is reduced from room temperature to from 4‹C to 8‹C and, after being maintained at the reduced temperature for a period of time, the culture is immersed in water at 5‹C. The suspension may be heated in a sealed vessel, before being filtered, to a temperature at which the production of enzymes in the hyphae is accelerated; preferably the suspension is heated first to from 30‹C to 35‹C for one hour and then to from 45‹C to 55‹C for one to two hours. The aqueous extract obtained may be admixed with ammonium sulphate so as to precipitate the substances contained in the extract, the precipitate is collected, dissolved in water and the resulting solution is dialyzed to remove any remaining ammonium sulphate. The extract contains enzymes including #-1-3 gluconase and chitinase, amino acids, vitamins, ergosterin, polysaccharides and polypeptides.