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In Vivo Toxicity of Bioreactor-Grown Biomass and Exopolysaccharides from Malaysian Tiger Milk Mushroom Mycelium for Potential Future Health Applications

Summary

Scientists tested the safety of extracts from the Malaysian tiger milk mushroom grown in laboratory conditions. This mushroom has traditionally been used to treat breathing problems like asthma. Using zebrafish embryos as test subjects, they found that the mushroom extracts were safe at therapeutic doses, supporting their potential use in future medicines. Impact on everyday life: – Could lead to new natural treatments for asthma and breathing problems – Provides a safer alternative to current steroid-based asthma medications – Demonstrates the value of traditional medicines when scientifically validated – Opens possibilities for sustainable production of natural medicines – Could reduce healthcare costs through natural therapeutic alternatives

Background

Tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) is a medicinal mushroom known for its therapeutic properties, particularly in treating respiratory diseases. The mushroom’s mycelial biomass (MB) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) contain bioactive compounds like β-glucans that have shown potential in various health applications. However, toxicity data for these extracts is limited, creating a need for safety assessment before commercial development.

Objective

To evaluate the toxicity of bioreactor-grown Malaysian tiger milk mushroom (L. rhinocerus) mycelial biomass and exopolysaccharides using the zebrafish embryo toxicity (ZFET) model assay, to determine their safety for potential therapeutic applications, particularly in treating asthma.

Results

MB showed an LC50 value of 0.77 mg/mL while EPS had an LC50 of 0.41 mg/mL. Both extracts at 2.5 mg/mL concentration did not delay embryo hatching and maintained >80% survival rate between 24-120 HPF. No significant changes in embryo heart rate were observed with MB (130 beats/min) and EPS (140 beats/min) at concentrations up to 1.25 mg/mL. Teratogenic effects were only observed at higher concentrations (>0.63 mg/mL for MB and >1.25 mg/mL for EPS).

Conclusion

This first ZFET assessment of bioreactor-grown L. rhinocerus extracts demonstrated that MB was harmless and EPS was practically non-toxic at therapeutic concentrations. The study provides evidence supporting the safe use of these extracts as potential therapeutic agents, particularly for respiratory diseases. The zebrafish model proved effective for rapid toxicity screening of medicinal mushroom extracts.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:In Vivo Toxicity Study,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41598-021-02486-7
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