Abstract:
The use of mushroom as a raw material to obtain chitosan and glucosamine was investigated at
laboratory level. Properties of chitosan extracted from local mushroom “lenahathu” (Schizophyllum
commune) and common oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) were compared. Isolation process of
chitosan involved de-mineralization, de-proteinization, de-acetylation and de-coloration steps. The
physico-chemical properties of chitosan such as solubility, moisture content, ash content, N content, fat
binding capacity (FBC), water binding capacity (WBC) and degree of de-acetylation (DD) of chitosan samples
extracted from Schizophyllum commune and Pleurotus ostreatus were analysed. The purity of two
glucosamine samples were analysed by spectrophotometrically and scan electron microscope (SEM). The
values for percentage yield, solubility, moisture content, ash content, N content, WBC were 1.73 ± 0.05%
and 1.22 ± 0.01%, 7.38 ± 0.10% and 3.41 ± 0.14%, 6.39 ± 0.20% and 8.16 ± 0.42%, 8.19 ± 0.04% and
1.63 ± 0.05%, 11.31% and 3.02%, 387.13 ± 15.57% and 402.57 ± 12.78% respectively for chitosan samples
from Schizophyllum commune and Pleurotus ostreatus. FBC were varied approximately 250% - 350% in
coconut oil, soy bean oil and sunflower oil. Chitosan and glucosamine were characterized using Fourier
Transformed Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. DD% of chitosan using FT-IR and conductometric titration
were 53.10% and 60.68% respectively for two species. The yield and purity of glucosamine sample of
Schizophyllum commune were 95.70% and 0.97 ± 0.08%. However the yield and purity of glucosamine
sample of Pleurotus ostreatus were 58.14% and 0.52 ± 0.04% respectively. According to results
Schizophyllum commune could be a good alternative to extract chitosan and an important drug
glucosamine.
