Screening and Optimal Extraction of a New Antidementia beta-Secretase Inhibitor-Containing Mushroom

To produce a potent antidementia beta-secretase inhibitor from a mushroom, the beta-secretase inhibitory activities of various mushroom extracts were determined. Methanol extracts of Lentinula edodes exhibited the highest inhibitory activity (40.1%). The inhibitor was maximally extracted when a fruiting body of L. edodes was treated with 50% methanol at 40degrees C for 24 h.