Evaluation of different agricultural wastes for the production of polysaccharides from and its antioxidant properties.

(OR) is a commercial mushroom which possesses high nutritional value and excellent and unique flavors. In this study, various agricultural wastes were utilized as substitute materials in the low-cost and high-yield production of mycelia biomass and polysaccharides by liquid fermentation. The sawdust, wheat bran, apple pomace, sugarcane, and corn particles were employed to cultivate OR, using the potato dextrose broth as control. Additionally, a preliminary characterization and in vitro antioxidant activities of partial purified OR polysaccharides were investigated. The substrate of sugarcane was suitable for mycelia growth of OR, with high yield of mycelia biomass and polysaccharides content. In vitro antioxidant activity assays demonstrated that OR polysaccharides could effectively scavenge 2,2'-azino-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals. OR polysaccharides had configuration as revealed by Fourier transform infrared, and was mainly composed of fucose (Fuc), rhamnose (Rha), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), glucose (Glc), xylose (Xyl), mannose (Man), ribose (Rib), and galacturonic acid (Gal-UA), with mass percentages of 3.29%, 0.64%, 1.09%, 16.03%, 72.69%, 0.56%, 3.18%, 0.93%, and 1.59%, respectively. This study may offer support for decreasing the cost of OR polysaccharides production and dealing with these agricultural wastes.