Comparative study on chitin content of Bangladeshi edible and medicinal mushrooms

Abstract

Chitin provides immense beneficial roles to the humanity and environment. Most of the chitin extracted worldwide are from the shell of the crustaceans. An alternative source of chitin has been observed as the number of crustaceans has been dilapidating. Here, extraction of chitin from the edible and medicinal macrofungi, mushrooms, have been described. This is a novel approach to meet the ever increasing chitin demand worldwide. Among four mushroom species (Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes and Ganoderma lucidum), the reishi mushroom or ling zhi (G. lucidum) had been found containing the highest amount of chitin on percentage basis of dried mushroom powder. Chitin content trend observed in this study was: G. lucidum (44%) > L. edodes (35%) > A. bisporus (18%) > P. ostreatus (10%). Thus, mushrooms could be considered as important source of chitin and its deacetylated product, chitosan. In this way, mushrooms could aid in biomedical and environmental intervention through suppliance of chitin and chitosan.