Abstract
Investigations on the physico-chemical properties with special reference to the stability were carried out with lenthionine, a substance which was isolated from dried Shiitake mushroom.
Lenthionine is practically insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents. Lenthionine in crystalline form can be stored unchanged for several months. However, the stability in an aqueous solution is greatly affected by the pH of the solution. It is fairly stable in the range of pH 2 to 4, but, in solutions above pH 5, it is decomposed quite rapidly.
The stability of lenthionine was not affected in the presence of oxygen, salts and surface active agents. On the other hand, the decomposition of lenthionine was accelerated by light and reducing agents, such as cysteine or sodium pyrosulfite.
Heat decomposition products of lenthionine in the buffer solution were hydrogen sulfide and thiocarbonyl compound.
