Submerged Culture Conditions for the Production of Exo- and Endo-Polysaccharides by Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.

Abstract

Ganoderma applanatum is a perennial mushroom (Basidiomycetes) which causes white rot in broadleaved trees. Th e fruit body has been used as a traditional anticancer medicine in China and is reported to have various benefi cial physiological activities such as antitumor, antivirus, and immunostimulating activities. Th ese biological activities are known to be associated with polysaccharides, and protein-bound polysaccharides were isolated from the fruiting bodies and mycelium. Submerged cultures of edible fungi obviously have the potential for higher mycelial production or for inducing mass production of useful substances in compact space in a short time period with easy environmental control. Th e aim of this investigation was to determine the optimal polysaccharide production conditions from G. applanatum in submerged culture. In order to produce the immunostimulating water-soluble polysaccharides from the mycelium, the eff ects of several cultivating factors on polysaccharide production were studied. We were especially interested in the factors aff ecting the re