Purification of the anti-allergenic compound containing in fruiting bodies of Sarcodon aspratus

The dry fruiting bodies of Sarcodon aspratus was extracted with hot water, that was previously extracted with methanol to remove fat and organic compounds with low molecular weight. The hot water extracts was dialyzed in water to obtain high molecular weight fraction. The precipitates of this fraction with 0.01N HCl showed a heterologous PCA (passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) inhibitory activity against guinia pig. This precipitates was dissolved in water, and re-precipitated by salting out (0.2M NaCl). The supernatant showed a PCA inhibitory activity. The supernatant fraction was treated with 60% (NH4)2SO4 saturation, and precipitates were collected, which showed a PCA inhibitory activity. The precipitates were purified with IRA-68 (OH-) and successive Dowex 50 W-X4 (H+) column chromatography, to obtain PCA inhibitory fraction (175mg) from the dry fruiting bodies (100g). The purified active compound showed one peak by gel filtration chromatography and one band by electrophoresis. This active dark brown compound was insoluble in water, soluble in alkali, and insoluble in acid. This active compound was found to show similar characteristics with humic acid on the basis of IR-spectra, ultraviolet and visible light spectra, consumption value of KMnO4, RF value and color coefficient of this active compound and the hydrolyzates by acid and alkali, which was prepared as one component of organic compounds obtained from soil.