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Analysis of the Biodegradation of Synthetic Testosterone and 17α-Ethynylestradiol Using the Edible Mushroom Lentinula edodes

Summary

This research demonstrates how shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) can help clean up hormone pollutants from water. The mushroom’s mycelium (root system) naturally breaks down synthetic hormones that contaminate our water supply from medications and livestock operations. This natural solution could help protect both environmental and human health. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a natural way to clean hormone pollutants from water supplies • Offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical water treatment • Could help reduce exposure to harmful hormone-disrupting chemicals • Demonstrates new beneficial uses for common edible mushrooms • May lead to improved water treatment technologies

Background

Environmental pollution with xenobiotics including steroid hormones has become a serious global problem. White rot fungi like Lentinula edodes produce enzymes that can degrade xenobiotics. These hormones contribute to cardiovascular diseases and cancers, and municipal water treatment plants are not efficient at removing them from wastewater. Finding safe and efficient biodegradation agents is therefore an important task.

Objective

To determine whether mycelium from in vitro cultures of Lentinula edodes can degrade endocrine disruptors such as testosterone and 17α-ethynylestradiol. The study aimed to analyze the biodegradation capabilities and identify degradation products using analytical methods like RP-HPLC chromatography and UPLC/MS/MS analysis.

Results

The mycelium successfully degraded both hormones. No 17α-ethynylestradiol was detected in any samples. Testosterone was only detected (2.97 mg/g dry weight) in mycelium cultured with 50 mg testosterone. The degradation process primarily affected rings C and D of the steroids, leading to oxidation and cleavage. 17α-ethynylestradiol showed more complete degradation than testosterone. Addition of synthetic steroids inhibited the synthesis of endogenous metabolites like ergosterol.

Conclusion

L. edodes mycelium effectively biodegrades testosterone and 17α-ethynylestradiol in a short time period. This demonstrates that mycodegradation using L. edodes can be used as an alternative method for removing steroid compounds contaminating the environment, particularly water systems.
  • Published in:3 Biotech,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1007/s13205-018-1458-x
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