Abstract

Fungi polysaccharides, also known as glucan is a naturally-occurring substance found in man’s diet involving mushrooms. Mushrooms are a great source of various biologically active compounds implicated as anti-oxidants, immune-regulation, dietary fibers, glucans, vitamins etc and the biological active nature of glucan is a multi-vector based on many factors evidenced in human health quality. This study was intended to biochemically determine three edible mushrooms (Pleurotus tuber regium, Pleurotus ostreatus and Auricularia auricular) for their polysaccharide (glucan) contents. The chemical analysis for the glucan adopted the method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) while the quantification of glucan was carried out using High Power Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results obtained indicated that all the samples contained appreciable quantity of glucan. It also showed that higher values of glucan were concentrated more in A. auricular while the quantity of glucan in Pleurotus tuber regium and Pleurotus ostreatus samples were apparently on the edge. Altogether, however, the implication is that these three edible mushrooms are promising candidates for potential support bioactive compound relevant to promoting human health.