Establishment of molecular weight specific chromatogram of Ganoderma glycopeptide and its application in extract

Abstract

Ganoderma polysaccharides (peptides) are essential bio-macromoleculars that determine the quality of Ganoderma. Their molecular weight,distribution and content are influenced by factors such as origin, strain, cultivation conditions, harvesting period and processing methods. In this study, we established a molecular weight specific chromatogram using high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) for Ganoderma glycopeptide and assessed its potential applications. The results revealed consistent molecular weight distributions across different cultivation conditions, with 6–8 characteristic peaks showing similarity values exceeding 0.93. The average molecular weight of common peaks was highest during the budding stage and lowest in the mature stage. Ganoderma lucidum (GL) exhibited higher molecular weights compared to Ganoderma sinense (GS). Moreover, both molecular weight and Ganoderma glycopeptides decreased with prolonged growth periods. The content of GL-PPSQ₂ was significantly higher in the budding (1.63 ± 0.15%) and cap-opening stages (1.51 ± 0.12%) compared to the mature stage (1.31 ± 0.05%). Chemometrics analysis revealed distinct molecular weight profiles for different growth stages and varieties. Additionally, the HPGPC method was successfully applied to detect adulteration in Ganoderma extracts, identifying excipients such as maltodextrin and dextran. This study underscores the importance of molecular weight distribution and glycopeptide content as key quality control indicators, providing a rapid and reliable tool for ensuring the authenticity and quality of Ganoderma extracts in the market.