Bioprospecting of Selected Species of Polypore Fungi from the Western Balkans

Abstract

Growing mushrooms means meeting challenges while aiming for sustainability and
circularity. Wherever the producer is located, commercial strains are the same originating from several
producers. Customized strains adapted to local conditions are urgently needed. Before introducing
new species to the strain development pipeline, the chemical characterization and biological activity
of wild ones need to be assessed. Accordingly, the mycoceutical potential of five polypore mushroom
species from Serbia was evaluated including: secondary metabolite composition, oxidative damage
prevention, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). The phenolic pattern was
comparable in all samples, but the amounts of specific chemicals varied. Hydroxybenzoic acids were
the primary components. All samples had varying quantities of ascorbic acid, carotene, and lycopene,
and showed a pronounced inhibition of lipid peroxidation (LPx) and ability to scavenge HO•
. Extracts
were more potent tyrosinase inhibitors but unsuccessful when faced with ACE. Fomitopsis pinicola
had the strongest anti-tumor efficacy while Ganoderma lucidum demonstrated strong selectivity in
anti-tumor effect in comparison to normal cells. The evaluated species provided a solid foundation
for commercial development while keeping local ecology in mind