Isolation, Characterization, and Medicinal Potential of Polysaccharides of Morchella esculenta

Syed Lal Badshah, Anila Riaz, Akhtar Muhammad, Gülsen Tel Tel Çayan, Fatih Çayan, Mehmet Emin Emin Duru, Nasir Ahmad, Abdul-Hamid M. Emwas, Mariusz Jaremko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mushroom polysaccharides are active medicinal compounds that possess immune-modulatory and anticancer properties. Currently, the mushroom polysaccharides krestin, lentinan, and polysaccharopeptides are used as anticancer drugs. They are an unexplored source of natural products with huge potential in both the medicinal and nutraceutical industries. The northern parts of Pakistan have a rich biodiversity of mushrooms that grow during different seasons of the year. Here we selected an edible Morchella esculenta (true morels) of the Ascomycota group for polysaccharide isolation and characterization. Polysaccharopeptides and polysaccharides from this mushroom were isolated using the green chemistry, hot water treatment method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the sugar nature and possible beta-glucan type structure of these polysaccharides. Antioxidant assays showed that the deproteinized polysaccharides have moderate free radical scavenging activity. These isolated polysaccharides exhibited good acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) inhibition activities. Therefore, these polysaccharides may be valuable for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Further bioassays are needed to discover the true potential of M. esculenta polysaccharides for medicinal purposes.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1459
JournalMolecules
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 8 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry

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