An Evaluation of the Chemotaxonomy of Lignosus Rhinocerus

Chemotaxonomy is the classification of plants and microorganisms based on similarities and differences in their natural products and the biochemical pathways involved in their manufacture. The classification and identification of L rhinocerus, a medicinal fungus, for this research was based on secondary metabolites profiles by using chemical analysis that provides more objective and comparable results than traditional descriptions. Furthermore, chemical differentiation products could also be expected to be species-specific which is valuable for assessing the authenticity and quality of THMP containing this fungus. The aims of this research program were directed towards the characterization of key metabolites of the fungus by evaluating the identified metabolites structure that has significance pharmacological or toxicological impact and chemotaxonomic profiling. This research required to develop appropriate extraction techniques to fractionate biochemical compounds of L rhinocerus, to carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses (TLC, IR, UV, HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS and NMR) of identified compounds and to establish robust quantitative techniques that may be applied in the routine quality assessment of samples of the fungal material. The best method of extraction was by using methanol-Et20 (1:1 v/v) in the presence of NaOH solution. Two identified compounds, ergosterol (0.39 mg/g) and ergone (0.03 mg/g) were isolated from flash chromatographic technique. The robustness of qualitative and quantitative analyses was demonstrated with good data of linearity (r, 0.9990) and %RSD value of precision and accuracy were less than 5.0%. Phenolic acid compounds were also detected and its total content (23.15~glg) was detennined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Both classification of fungal sterols and PACs of L. rhinocerus were established using the optimum HPLC (chromatographic fingerprint) that may be applied in the routine quality assessment of samples of the fungal material. The main pharmacological effects of these compounds were anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects. Consequently, overall aims and objectives of this research have been achieved.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Liverpool John Moores University

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Zainoor, N B M

• QD Chemistry
• QR Microbiology
• RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.24377/LJMU.t.00005949

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk:5949