Studies on Formaldehyde in Lentinus edodes

Abstract

The 4-amino-3-hydrazino-5-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazole (AHMT) method was superior to acetylacetone method and chromotropic acid method for the direct determination of formaldehyde in Lentinus edodes. By applying this method to raw and dried samples, it was found that the free formaldehyde content varied with both the strain and the fruiting season. The contents found were higher than those given in other reports and, in the autumnal strains, did not increase after drying. In addition, the formaldehyde formation by enzymatic and acid hydrolysis also depended on the strain and fruiting season.
Further studies are required to identify the precursor of formaldehyde in Lentinus edodes.