Ultrasonic disruption of fungal mycelia for efficient recovery of polysaccharide-protein complexes from viscous fermentation broth of a medicinal fungus.

High-intensity ultrasound (US) was applied to facilitate the extraction of intracellular and extracellular polysaccharide-protein complexes (PSPs) from the viscous mycelial fermentation broth of a medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis Cs-HK1. The US treatment caused the disruption of fungal mycelia, a dramatic reduction of the apparent broth viscosity, and the release of intracellular products into the liquid medium. The degree of mycelium disruption and the rate of intracellular product release were dependent on US power intensity, treatment period and biomass concentration of broth.