Abstract
Free and polymeric carbohydrates in Cordyceps, a valued edible mushroom and well-known traditional Chinese medicine, were determined using stepwise pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) extraction and GC-MS. Based on the optimized PLE conditions, acid hydrolysis and derivatization, ten monosaccharides, namely rhamnose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, mannitol, fructose and sorbose in 13 samples of natural and cultured Cordyceps were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed and compared with myo-inositol hexaacetate as internal standard. The results showed that natural C. sinensis contained more than 7.99% free mannitol and a small amount of glucose, while its polysaccharides were usually composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1.00:16.61~3.82:1.60~1.28. However, mannitol in cultured C. sinensis and cultured C. militaris were less than 5.83%, and free glucose was only detected in a few samples, while their polysaccharides were mainly composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with molar ratios of 1.00:3.01~1.09:3.30~1.05 and 1.00:2.86~1.28:1.07~0.78, respectively. Natural and cultured Cordyceps could be discriminated by hierarchical clustering analysis based on its free carbohydrate contents.
Highlights
IntroductionCarbohydrates, including free and polymeric saccharides (polysaccharides), are usually considered the principal substrates of energy metabolism [1]
Carbohydrates, including free and polymeric saccharides, are usually considered the principal substrates of energy metabolism [1]
A previous study had shown that completed derivatization was markedly influenced by the amount of hydroxylamine hydrochloride used, the temperature and duration of oximation, as well as temperature and duration of acylation [29], these factors were investigated to obtain stable and maximum total response ratios of saccharides to internal standard (IS)
Summary
Carbohydrates, including free and polymeric saccharides (polysaccharides), are usually considered the principal substrates of energy metabolism [1]. They play important roles in nutrition and therapeutics [2,3]. A famous and valued medicinal material, is commonly used as a health food and Traditional Chinese Medicine for replenishing the kidneys and soothing the lungs in the treatment of various diseases [6,7] It contains high amounts of carbohydrates, which can range from 3 to 8% of the total dry weight [8]. Though the sugars [16,17] and polysaccharides [18] in Cordyceps have been determined, complete profiles and contents of free and polymeric carbohydrates in natural and cultured Cordyceps are still not available
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