A Bioactive Compounds Profile Present in the Selected Wood Rot

Wood rot fungi are an essential link in the forest ecosystem. The presented study aimed to determine the content of selected antioxidant active compounds of selected saprobionts commonly found in the European forests: Hypholoma fasciculare (Huds.) P. Kumm, Bjerkandera adusta (Willd.) P. Karst., Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilat, Kuehneromyces mutabilis (Schaeff.) Singer & AH Sm., Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm., Pholiota squarrosa (Vahl) P. Kumm. Chemical methods (HPLC determination, ABTS(+) and FPA methods, and a saponification method by Acquity UPLC) were used to analyze active compounds. In the tested isolates, the presence of 13 phenolic acids has been observed, including p-coumaric, ferulic, chlorogenic, and sinapic acid, in high concentrations. The antioxidant activity was from 2.5 to 3.5 times higher in the isolates of I. obliquus, P. ostreatus, and H. fasciculare in comparison to P. squarrosa and B. adusta. All isolates were tested for beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. High concentrations of flavonoids were observed in H. fasciculare and P. squarrosa. In addition, the observed concentration of naringenin, quercetin, and kaempferol above 21 mg/kg DM was found. The ergosterol was quantified in the saprobiont fungi cultures. A diversified content of bioactive compounds characterized the tested fungi, and the Chaga (I. obliquus) reported the highest content of tested compounds.

Automated summary

Wood rot fungi are crucial for the forest ecosystem and contain various antioxidant compounds. Among the tested fungi, Inonotus obliquus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Hypholoma fasciculare showed higher antioxidant activity. High concentrations of flavonoids were observed in Hypholoma fasciculare and Pholiota squarrosa, while the highest content of tested compounds was found in Chaga (I. obliquus).