Glucans were isolated from the cell wall of the yeast (Y) and mycelial (M) forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The alkali-soluble glucan of the Y form had properties of alpha-1,3-glucan. The alkali-insoluble glucan of the M form was identified as a beta-glucan which contains a beta-(1 --> 3)-glycosidic linkage by infrared absorption spectrum, by effect of beta-1,3-glucanase, and by partial ...

A pressurized water extraction (PWE) method was developed in order to extract β-glucans with bile acids-binding capacities from cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus) to be used as supplements to design novel foods with hypocholesterolemic properties. Extraction yields were higher in individual than sequential extractions being the optimal extraction...

Chemistry of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans Beta-glucans comprise a very diverse group of polysaccharides (even paper) in which glucose molecules as the only building block are linked together by beta-linkages. Only very few beta-glucan structures, notably beta-1,3/ 1,6-glucans, are bioactive in the sense that they interact with receptors on immune cells and elicit specific biological responses. Beta-1,3...

Abstract Advanced antimicrobial biomaterials for wound healing applications are an active field of research their potential in addressing severe and infected wounds overcoming the threat resistance. Beta-glucans have been used preparation these materials bioactive properties, but very little progress has made so far producing biomedical devices entirely beta-glucans integration with effective a...

The polysaccharides beta-glucans occur as a principal component of the cellular walls. Some microorganisms, such as yeast and mushrooms, and also cereals such as oats and barley, are of economic interest because they contain large amounts of beta-glucans. These substances stimulate the immune system, modulating humoral and cellular immunity, and thereby have beneficial effect in fighting infect...

Glucans are immunomodulatory carbohydrates found in the cell walls of fungi and certain bacteria. We examined the pharmacokinetics of three water-soluble glucans (glucan phosphate, laminarin, and scleroglucan) after oral administration of 1 mg/kg doses in rats. Maximum plasma concentrations for glucan phosphate occurred at 4 h. In contrast, laminarin and scleroglucan showed two plasma peaks bet...

Starch synthase (SS) and branching enzyme (BE) establish the two glycosidic linkages existing in starch. Both enzymes exist as several isoforms. Enzymes derived from several species were studied extensively both in vivo and in vitro over the last years, however, analyses of a functional interaction of SS and BE isoforms are missing so far. Here, we present data from in vitro studies including b...

beta-(1,6)-Branched beta-(1,3)-D-glucans like schizophyllan from the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune excite various immunostimulatory effects and have been clinically tested as adjuvants. Some of the glucans are also applicable in food or petrol industry due to their viscosity and temperature stability in aqueous solution. Antibodies against these glucans could be used as tool for analysis ...

A significant proportion of cancer patients receive complementary medical/herbal therapy while undergoing conventional anti-cancer treatment (McEachrane-Gross et al., 2006; Inglin et al., 2008; Mueller et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2008; Supoken et al., 2009; Nazik et al., 2011). β-glucans (1,3-1,6 β-D-glucan) were recently reported to be one of the active ingredients responsible for the immunomod...