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Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki Revisited: Domestication Study and Antioxidant Properties of its Basidiocarps and Mycelia

Summary

This research explored ways to cultivate a rare medicinal mushroom traditionally used by Malaysian indigenous tribes. The study found that while the mushroom can be grown artificially using sawdust as a growing medium, the cultivated versions had lower antioxidant properties compared to wild specimens. This highlights the need to optimize cultivation methods to maintain the mushroom’s health benefits. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides a sustainable way to produce medicinal mushrooms without depleting wild populations – Helps preserve traditional medical knowledge while validating it scientifically – Offers potential new natural antioxidant supplements for health maintenance – Creates economic opportunities for indigenous communities through mushroom cultivation – Contributes to the conservation of rare species

Background

Ganoderma neo-japonicum is a rare saprotrophic and annual polypore mushroom that grows on decaying bamboo clumps in Asian countries. Malaysian indigenous tribes traditionally use this mushroom to treat various ailments including fever, asthma, diabetes, and joint pain. While G. lucidum has been well-studied, G. neo-japonicum remains relatively unexplored despite its medicinal potential.

Objective

The study aimed to optimize cultivation conditions for G. neo-japonicum using different agricultural waste formulations and investigate mycelium production via fermentation. Additionally, the researchers sought to compare antioxidant activities between extracts from wild basidiocarps, cultivated basidiocarps, and mycelium from both submerged and solid substrate fermentation.

Results

Sawdust supported the fastest mycelia growth (38 days for complete colonization) and was the best substrate for cultivation. Complex medium with 200 rpm shaking speed produced maximum mycelial biomass (27.11 g/L) in submerged culture. The ethanolic extract of wild basidiocarps showed the highest phenolic content (101.01 μgGAE/mg) and strongest antioxidant activities compared to cultivated basidiocarps and mycelia.

Conclusion

G. neo-japonicum can be successfully cultivated using sawdust as substrate and produced via fermentation methods. However, the antioxidant properties were notably reduced in cultivated forms compared to wild specimens. The domestication process needs optimization to retain the mushroom’s nutraceutical potential while ensuring sustainable supply and conservation of this rare species.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/srep12515
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