Structural studies of an immunoenhancing water-soluble glucan isolated from hot water extract of an edible mushroom, Pleurotus florida, cultivar Assam Florida.

An immunoenhancing polysaccharide isolated from the hot water extract of the fruiting bodies of an edible mushroom Pleurotus florida, cultivar Assam Florida, was found to consist of only d-glucose as a monosaccharide constituent. On the basis of total acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, and NMR experiments ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT-135, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC), the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established as This glucan stimulates macrophages, splenocytes, and thymocytes.