NOVEL D-GLUCANS OBTAINED BY DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE EXTRACTION OF THE LICHENS Letharia vulpina, Actinogyra muehlenbergii, AND AN Usnea SP.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0008-6215(88)84063-1

Extraction of certain lichens with cold dimethyl sulfoxide provided a β-D-glucan virtually free of contaminating α-D-glucan and galactomannan.Applied to Letharia vulpina, the method gave β-D-glucan, and extraction of the residue with hot water followed by cooling gave α-D-glucan.From Usnea sp. a β-D-glucan was isolated, but little α-D-glucan was present.Extraction of Actinogyra muehlenbergii provided a (1<*>6)-linked β-D-glucopyranan containing one acetyl group of every 8-9 glucosyl units, being present almost exclusively as monosubstituent at O-2, O-3, and O-4.