Sub- and supercritical fluid extraction of bioactive compounds from Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum, a polypore group fungus, provides polysaccharides in which beta- glu- cans are core structures that claim to possess cancerous and immunomodulatory properties. The objective of this work has been to establish a method of extraction from grinded form of Ganoderma lucidum with water in sub-critical conditions and with SCCO2 at distinct temperatures to obtain extracts rich in water soluble organic compounds (WSOC), including mostly beta glucans and triterpenoids including ganoderic acids and alcohols respectively. For hydrothermal treatment, increase in temperatures showed positive effect on the recovery efficiency for water soluble organic compounds. It was demonstrated that the modified SCCO2 extraction is suitable for the extraction of Ganoderma lucidum. It was also seen that molecular weights of extracts became smaller for high temperatures having increasing values for SCCO2 extraction in comparison to hydrothermal treatment.