Water-solubility of β-Glucans in Various Edible Mushrooms - Research Note -

The amount of $\beta-glucans$ in 12 edible mushroom species was determined and their water-solubility was assessed. A large variability in $\beta-glucans$ content was observed in the mushroom species, ranging from 4.71 to $46.20\%$ on a dry basis. Gyrophora esculenta, Lentinus edodes, Coriolus versicolor, Ganodenna lucidum, and Flammulina velutipes had high levels of $\beta-glucans$ Soluble $\beta-glucans$ content, which plays a key role in the physiological effects of mushrooms, also varied greatly according to the mushroom species, ranging from 2.12 to $19.66\%$. Water-solubility of $\beta-glucans$ in the edible mushrooms, as a percentage of total $\beta-glucans$ content varied from 42.55 to $73.35\%$.