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Selenium and Zinc Biofortification of Pleurotus eryngii Mycelium and Fruiting Bodies as a Tool for Controlling Their Biological Activity

Summary

This research explored how adding selenium and zinc to mushroom growing media affects the nutritional and medicinal properties of king oyster mushrooms. The study shows that mushrooms can be enriched with these important minerals while maintaining their beneficial compounds. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides a way to produce more nutritious mushrooms for consumers – Offers potential for developing enhanced dietary supplements – Demonstrates how to create healthier food products naturally – Could help address mineral deficiencies in populations – Shows promise for developing new functional foods

Background

Pleurotus eryngii (king oyster mushroom) is a cultivated mushroom species known for its culinary value and medicinal properties. It contains bioactive compounds like phenolic acids and lovastatin, and has immunostimulatory, anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. The mycelium shows effective absorption of nutrients and bio-elements from growth media, making it suitable for biofortification with functional trace elements.

Objective

To investigate the ability of P. eryngii mycelia from in vitro cultures and fruiting bodies to accumulate zinc and selenium, and determine how Se and Zn biofortification affects productivity, chemical compounds, and bio-elements content.

Results

The mycelium showed effective accumulation of zinc and selenium from culture media, with the degree of zinc accumulation varying by salt type. Zinc sulfate and hydroaspartate supplementation increased mycelium yield compared to control, while selenium did not affect mycelium yield but reduced fruiting body production. Supplementation affected the content of phenolic compounds, lovastatin, and bio-elements differently in mycelium versus fruiting bodies. Mycelium supplemented with zinc showed improved antioxidant capacity.

Conclusion

P. eryngii mycelium and fruiting bodies can be effectively biofortified with selenium and zinc through growth media supplementation. The effects vary between mycelium and fruiting bodies, with supplementation impacting yields and chemical composition differently. The results provide guidance for developing growth media compositions to produce biomass with targeted element and compound profiles for food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/molecules25040889
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