Characterization of a bioactive polysaccharide from Ganoderma atrum: Re-elucidation of the fine structure

The fine structure in terms of backbone and branch chain features of a bioactive polysaccharide from Ganoderma atrum (PSG-1) was re-elucidated systematically using high performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), methylation and GLC-MS analysis, and 1D & 2D NMR spectroscopy. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that PSG-1-F_0.2 fraction mainly consisted of glucose (73.8%) and glucuronic acid (15.3%), with small amount of mannose (5.7%) and galactose (5.2%). Based on methylation, multistep partial acid hydrolysis and NMR study, were proposed to substitute at the O-6 position of β-(1→3)-glucan. The small amount of mannose and galactose residues were considered to be from the other fraction in PSG which was very difficult to be separated from PSG-1-F_0.2. This revised structure as an acidic β-(1→3, 1→6)-glucan is considered to be more accurate than the previous proposal of PSG-1.