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Carbon Source Affects Synthesis, Structures, and Activities of Mycelial Polysaccharides from Medicinal Fungus Inonotus obliquus

Summary

This research investigated how different sugar sources affect the production and properties of beneficial compounds from the medicinal mushroom chaga when grown in laboratory conditions. The findings show that using a combination of glucose and lactose produces the most effective compounds with immune-boosting and anti-cancer properties. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a more efficient way to produce beneficial compounds from chaga mushroom for medical use • Helps develop better natural supplements for immune system support • Advances development of potential natural anti-cancer treatments • Makes medicinal mushroom compounds more accessible and affordable • Reduces need to harvest wild chaga mushrooms, helping preserve natural resources

Background

Medicinal fungi have received considerable research attention due to their bioactive metabolites with complex and novel structures. Inonotus obliquus (chaga) is a black parasitic fungus traditionally used in Russia and Eastern Europe for treating various conditions. Its polysaccharides show immunostimulatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-fatigue and hypoglycemic activities. Due to limited wild resources, artificial culture techniques like liquid fermentation have been developed to produce I. obliquus metabolites.

Objective

To investigate the effects of different carbon sources on synthesis, structures, and bioactivities of Inonotus obliquus mycelial polysaccharides generated by liquid fermentation, and evaluate how carbon sources affect expression of key genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis.

Results

The glucose+lactose combination yielded significantly higher mycelial biomass and polysaccharide content compared to single carbon sources. The four neutral polysaccharides showed different molecular weights (10.28-1105.00 kDa) and were composed of glucose, mannose and galactose in varying ratios. Their structures contained different proportions of 1→2, 1→3, 1→4, and 1→6 glycosidic linkages. NIOPL/NIOPGL showed stronger immune-enhancing effects while NIOPG/NIOPGL demonstrated better anti-tumor activity. Expression of key genes PGI and UGE varied significantly based on carbon source used.

Conclusion

Carbon source significantly affects the synthesis, structure and bioactivity of I. obliquus polysaccharides by regulating expression levels of genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis. The glucose+lactose combination proved optimal for production, while different carbon sources resulted in polysaccharides with varying structural properties and biological activities.
  • Published in:Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.4014/jmb.2102.02006
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