The mycochemical composition and structural characterization of the whole aqueous and methanolic extracts from Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii are investigated. Two water-soluble glucans were obtained from the fruiting bodies by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, dialysis and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. On the basis of total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, and NMR studies (1H, 13C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC) two fractions PEPS-1 and PEPS-2 were characterized and the structure of the repeating unit of the glucan were determined as linear (1→6)--glucan and (1→6)--glucan, respectively.
The methanolic extract of Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii was also investigated and a complex mixture of triglycerides together with ergosterol, ergosterol-3-O--linoleate were identified. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical reactions.
The dry fruiting bodies of Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii have shown a significative antioxidant and antitumour activity.
