Isolation and Properties of a Bitter Component from the Mushroom

The toxic mushroom Naematoloma fasciculare contains several bitter components . The toxicity to mice, which was located in the water-soluble fraction , was estimated to be 2MU/g of the raw sample. On the other hand, the bitter components were detected only in the fat-soluble fraction, indicating that the bitter components are not responsible for the toxicity . Isolation of one of the bitter components was achieved by successive silicic acid column chromatography , Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and preparative thin layer chromatography . The isolated component exhibited the following physical properties: mp, 181-183°C; elementary analysis , C 61.93%, H 9.29%, O 28.78%; UVλMeOHmaxnm, 205; IRνKBrmaxcm-1 , 3430, 1630; PMRδd5-pyridineMe4Sl, 0.76, 1.15, 1.17, 1.28, 1.41, 1.51, 1.53 (each 3H, s), 3.41 (1H, d), 5.54 (6~7H , br, s); MS m/e, 508. These results suggest that the bitter component might be related to fasciculols, triterpenes or their derivatives, Which have been isolated as plant growth inhibitors from the mushroom.