Purification and characterization of a novel small-molecule polysaccharide from the Maitake medicinal mushroom Grifola frondosa (higher Basidiomycetes).

A novel small-molecule polysaccharide with a molecular mass of 2.6 kDa, was isolated from the culinary-medicinal Maitake mushroom Grifola frondosa. GFPS is composed of fucose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose, and mannose; galactose, glucose, and mannose were the dominant monosaccharides. Absorption peaks at 1077 cm-1, 1024 cm-1, and 873 cm-1, as revealed by infrared spectrum, suggesting that GFPS consists of pyranoside. GFPS significantly enhanced the production of nitric oxide and secretion of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-δ) from macrophages in vitro. These results indicate that this novel small-molecule polysaccharide might be beneficial for immune defense.