Fomitopsis officinalis is a popular species of therapeutic arboreal mushroom with a documented history of use in traditional European and Asian medicine. It was chosen as a research material not only due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunostimulating properties but also because it is endangered in Poland. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing inorganic zinc and magnesium salts to the culture medium in which F. officinalis was multiplied in vitro in 10-L bioreactors equipped with an aeration and CO2 removal system. The influence of the addition of zinc and magnesium salts to the culture medium on the quantity of bioelements and organic compounds (indole, phenolic compounds, and L-phenylalanine), as well as their bioavailability to the human body (extraction to artificial digestive juices), was determined. The lowest amount of Mg and Zn was found in the fruiting bodies of F. officinalis (132.1 and 15.3 mg/100 g dry weight (d.w.), respectively), whereas the highest amount was found in the mycelium obtained on the medium enriched with sulfate salts (1261 and 182.8 mg/100 g d.w., respectively). Enrichment of the medium increased the content of the studied bioelements and organic compounds in the F. officinalis mycelium. The results showed that the applied method allowed obtaining fortified mycelium of the tested species as a natural therapeutic material that can supplement the deficiency of bioelements, phenolic compounds, L-phenylalanine, and indole compounds.
Fijałkowska, A., Krakowska, A., Lazur, J., Włodarczyk, A., Zięba, P., Suchanek, M., . . . Muszynska, B. Fortified Mycelium of Fomitopsis officinalis (Agaricomycetes) as a Source of Biologically Active Substances Effective in the Prevention of Civilization Diseases. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. doi:10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2021039778