Abstract:As an edible fungus with the highest yield in China, Lentinula edodes is rich in nutrition and active substances, and has high edible and medicinal values, with purine and eritadenine having confirmed relations to human health. However, these two kinds of substances have completely different effects on human health. Purine is related to human’s uric acid anabolism, and excessive intake of purine tends to increase the uric acid level and cause symptoms such as gout. As a result L. edodes is resisted by some consumers due to its purine content, which has hindered the development of such an industry. Eritadenine is related to the synthesis and regulation of human blood lipids, exhibits a blood lipid-lowering, thrombosis-preventing, vascular diseases-preventing, antidegeneration, detoxifying and other effects, thereby being recognized as a kind of substance beneficial to human health. In this paper, the distribution, separation and determination of purine in Lentinus edodes and its relationship with human health are reviewed, and the effects of purine components in Lentinus edodes on uric acid are explored and clarified. The preparation methods and pharmacological activities of eritadenine are reviewed in order to provide a reference for the development and utilization of eritadenine.
