RT Journal Article ID 6fdfe8d724951231 A1 Kawakami, Sachiko A1 Minato, Ken-ichiro A1 Tokimoto, Keisuke A1 Fujitake, Nobuhide A1 Mizuno, Masashi T1 Changes of Lentinan Contents and Glucanase Activity in Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer (Agaricomycetideae) Stored Under Controlled Atmosphere JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2004 FD 2004-04-01 VO 6 IS 1 OP 6 AB Edible and medicinal mushroom Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) contains an antitumor polysaccharide, lentinan. In a previous report, we ascertained that low-temperature storage was fairly effective for maintaining the contents of lentinan, and the degradation of lentinan during storage at 20 °C was caused by the increase of glucanase activity. In the present study, the effect of different atmosphere treatments during storage of L. edodes on the contents of lentinan and glucanase activity was investigated. The mushrooms were sealed in plastic bags filled with 100% CO2, 100% N2, or air and stored at 20 °C for 7 days. After the storage, the appearance of mushrooms treated with 100% CO2 kept their freshness better than did the mushrooms in the other atmosphere treatment. Although the contents of lentinan decreased during storage under any conditions, they maintained higher levels in 100% CO2 and 100% N2 than in air up to 5 days. The changes of glucanase activity were correlated with the decreases of lentinan contents. These results suggest that the contents of lentinan can be controlled not only by temperature but also by atmosphere conditions, and particularly that the treatment with 100% CO2 was more effective than that with N2 or air at 20 °C. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,0738f8d34e863c74,6fdfe8d724951231.html