Total Phenolics and Beta-1,3-Glucans Extracted from Medicinal Mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum, Inonotus obliquus, and Phellinus linteus)

Medicinal mushrooms have been known to have abundant phenolics and functional polysaccharides. Especially, beta-1,3-glucans have been known to activate immune system and to have tumoricidal effects. The objective of this study was to determine the total phenolics and beta-1,3-glucans of water extractions of three medicinal mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum, Inonotus obliquus, and Phellinus linteus). Each mushroom was extracted under four extraction conditions (60°C, 4 h; 60°C, 8 h; 100°C, 4 h; and 100°C, 8 h) using a reflux condenser. I. obliquus had significantly higher total phenolics than the other mushrooms in all the extraction conditions. G. lucidum had the lowest total phenolics. I. obliquus and P. linteus had higher total phenolics extracted at 100°C than at 60°C. However, total phenolics from G. lucidum were not affected by the extraction temperature. On the other hand, G. lucidum had significantly higher beta-1,3-glucans than the other mushrooms in all the extraction conditions. I. obliquus and P. linteus had little beta-1,3-glucans. Additionally, G. lucidum had more beta-1,3-glucans when the extraction temperature and time increased. I. obliquus had lower beta-1,3-glucans extracted at 100°C than at 60°C.