Waste biomass of mushroom Agaricus bisporus as a source of β-glucans and antioxidants

Agaricus bisporus (hrv. šampinjon) je jedna od najčešće uzgajanih gljiva u svijetu. Dobre nutritivne karakteristike šampinjona, koji sadrže nizak udjel masnoća te visoki udjel proteina i ugljikohidrata, među kojima su najzastupljenija dijetalna vlakna, čine ih gotovo idealnom dijetalnom namirnicom. Šampinjoni također sadrže i mnoštvo spojeva koji posjeduju antioksidacijska svojstva te polisaharide, poput β-glukana, kojem se pripisuju imunomodulacijska svojstva. Otpadna biomasa šampinjona je sekundarni proizvod, koji se dobiva prilikom berbe. Ona je jestiva, ali za nju ne postoji adekvatno tržište u Hrvatskoj. Nakon uklanjanja komposta i pranja, takva otpadna biomasa sadržavala je 5,52 % suhe tvari u kojoj se nalazilo 59,44 % proteina, 31,51 % ugljikohidrata i 6,32 % pepela. Potvrđena su antioksidacijska svojstva metanolnih ekstrakata spomenute otpadne biomase te određeni udjeli fenola i flavonoida u ovim ekstraktima. Provedena je ekstrakcija polisaharida iz otpadne biomase, a izolirani sirovi polisaharidni preparat sadržavao je β-glukan i također posjedovao antioksidacijska svojstva.Agaricus bisporus (white button mushroom, champignon) is one of the most cultivated mushrooms in the world. Their good nutritional characteristics due to the low fat, high protein and carbohydrate content, among which dietary fibers are predominant, make champignons an almost ideal dietary foodstuff. In addition, they contain great deal of antioxidative substances as well as polysaccharides, such as β-glucan, which has been reported for its immunomodulatory activity. Waste champignon biomass is a secondary product which is gained during the harvesting stage. It is edible but there is not a suitable market for its distribution in Croatia. After removing the compost, the waste biomass comprised 5.52 % of dry weight which contained 59.44 % of protein, 31.51 % of carbohydrats and 6.32 % of ash. Methanolic extracts of such waste biomaterial contained certain amounts of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds and expressed antioxidant activity. Crude polysaccharides, isolated by water extraction, contained β-glucans and expresseed antioxidant activity as well