Medicinal Potential of the Insoluble Extracted Fibers Isolated from the Fomes fomentarius (Agaricomycetes) Fruiting Bodies: A Review.

The tough, hoof-shaped fruiting bodies of the tinder conk mushroom, Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. (Polyporaceae, Agaricomycetes), were traditionally used all over the world as tinder to start fire, for ritual purposes, to make artworks like clothing, frames, ornaments, and also to cure various human diseases (wounds, gastro-intestinal disorders, liver-related problems, inflammations, various cancers, etc.). The first wave of scientific interest in F. fomentarius in Europe dates back to the early 1970s with the discovery of the red-brown pigments of the F. fomentarius external layer. Since then, a number of research papers and reviews have mentioned the history of use, taxonomy, composition and medicinal properties of some F. fomentarius preparations, e.g., soluble extracts and their fractions, isolated cell walls, mycelia and compounds purified from the culture broth. The present review is focused on the composition and benefits of the water-insoluble cell walls obtained from the F. fomentarius fruiting bodies. Isolated cell walls of the tinder mushroom reveal a fibrous hollow structure with an average diameter of 3-5 µm and a wall thickness of 0.2-1.5 µm. Naturally, the fibers are composed of 25-38% glucans, with a majority of ß-glucans, around 30% polyphenols, 6% chitin and less than 2% hemicellulose. The percentage of the main structural compounds can vary either slightly or considerably, depending on the extraction conditions. According to in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo as well as clinical studies, F. fomentarius fibers can modulate the immune system, contribute to intestinal health, accelerate wound healing, absorb heavy metals, organic dyes and radionuclides, normalize kidney and liver function, and provide antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Multiple action of the insoluble cell walls purified from the F. fomentarius fruiting bodies is particularly effective in the treatment of chronic, recurring, complicated multifactorial diseases. It is certainly worth exploring the medicinal potential and the practical application of these preparations further.

Effect of Cytokinin-Containing Extracts from Some Medicinal Mushroom Mycelia on HepG2 Cells In Vitro.

Endogenous cytokinins in mycelia of medicinal mushrooms Hericium coralloides and Fomitopsis officinalis grown in vitro were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. High amounts of zeatin-type cytokinins and isopentenyladenine were found. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of cytokinins were species-specific traits of mushrooms. Optical microscopy was used to perform a comparison analysis of the influence of crude extracts and purified cytokinin fractions from both species' mycelial biomass on HepG2 tumor cell growth in vitro and morphology. The results showed that purified cytokinin fractions from H. coralloides and F. officinalis mycelia demonstrated a cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells, unlike crude extracts. Under the influence of all mushroom extracts, similar patterns of changes in HepG2 cell morphology were observed, but they were more pronounced for H. coralloides compared with F. officinalis. Purified fractions of both mushroom species caused an increased level of apoptosis compared to crude extracts. Some increase in glucose uptake by cultured cells was found in all investigated samples wherein the influence of H. coralloides extracts was approximately twice the effect of the corresponding F. officinalis extracts. The data obtained confirm the assumption that cytokinins are involved in the expression of therapeutic effects of medicinal mushrooms and indicate the need to take into consideration the methods of cytokinin extraction when preparing pharmacologically active drugs based on fungal raw materials. Thus, extracts from H. coralloides and F. officinalis mycelial biomass are promising in the search for anticancer agents.

Chemical Composition and Ultraviolet Absorption Activity of an Aqueous Alkali Extract from the Fruiting Bodies of the Tinder Conk Mushroom, Fomes fomentarius (Agaricomycetes).

White rot mushroom Fomes fomentarius is a medicinal fungus with great potential to be explored. This work focused on the chemical composition of a basic aqueous extract from F. fomentarius fruiting bodies. The extract was mostly composed of phenolics, carbohydrates, minerals, and crude fat with a low amount of proteins and chitin. One-third of the total carbohydrates were in the form of beta-glucans with minor amounts of alpha-glucans. The most valuable essential part of the extract was composed of an acid-resistant ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing mixture of phenolic compounds such as melanins, lignins, and humic acids. These compounds, also referred to as melanin-like pigments, provided for the high antioxidant activity of the extract measured in vitro. Moderate sun-protective capacity was observed with regard to UVB rays and also expected in the UVA range. Quantification of melanin-like pigments in the F. fomentarius extract was possible either gravimetrically as acid-insoluble residue or spectrophotometrically in the UV region. Melanin estimation, based on nitrogen measurements, offered misleading results due to the presence of nitrogen-free melanins along with other nitrogen-containing compounds such as proteins and chitin. F. fomentarius water-soluble basic extract, containing beta-glucans and rich in melanin-like substances, could be used, for example, for topical skin application to prevent cell damage caused by excessive UV exposure or cytotoxic free radicals. The bioactive potential, safety, and further applications of the F. fomentarius extract are currently being investigated.

Simplified Colorimetric Determination of Glucosamine in the Tinder Conk Mushroom, Fomes fomentarius (Agaricomycetes).

Next to cellulose, chitin is the most abundant biopolymer on Earth and participates, in particular, in the assembly of the fungal cell walls. Easy monitoring of the amount of chitinous polymers could be advantageous during biotechnological cultivation and mushroom farming in order to control and optimize the production process. In this study, a modified colorimetric glucosamine (GlcN) assay was validated using high-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAE) coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) following acid hydrolysis of the Fomes fomentarius cell walls. The average data obtained from both methods were well comparable. The HPAE-PAD analysis was suggested to be preferable because it had less data scattering, but it could be replaced with the simplified colorimetric GlcN screening in some cases such as low budgetary resources or an absence of suitable equipment, materials, or highly skilled staff. The robust, cost-effective colorimetric GlcN assay presented here can be readily requested, considering the rapidly growing market as well as the scientific and industrial potential of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.

Medicinal potential of mycelium and fruiting bodies of an arboreal mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis in therapy of lifestyle diseases.

Fomitopsis officinalis is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional European eighteenth and nineteenth century folk medicine. Fruiting bodies of F. officinalis were collected from the natural environment of Swietokrzyskie Province with the consent of the General Director for Environmental Protection in Warsaw. Mycelial cultures were obtained from fragments of F. officinalis fruiting bodies. The taxonomic position of the mushroom mycelium was confirmed using the PCR method. The presence of organic compounds was determined by HPLC-DAD analysis. Bioelements were determined by AF-AAS. The biochemical composition of the tested mushroom material was confirmed with the FTIR method. Antioxidant properties were determined using the DPPH method, and the antiproliferative activity was assessed with the use of the MTT test. The presence of indole compounds (L-tryptophan, 6-methyl-D,L-tryptophan, melatonin, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan), phenolic compounds (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, catechin, phenylalanine), and sterols (ergosterol, ergosterol peroxide) as well as trace elements was confirmed in the mycelium and fruiting bodies of F. officinalis. Importantly, a high level of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan in in vitro mycelium cultures (517.99 mg/100 g d.w) was recorded for the first time. The tested mushroom extracts also showed antioxidant and antiproliferative effects on the A549 lung cancer cell line, the DU145 prostate cancer cell line, and the A375 melanoma cell line.

Lanostane Triterpenoids with PTP1B Inhibitory and Glucose-Uptake Stimulatory Activities from Mushroom Fomitopsis pinicola Collected in North America.

A chemical investigation on the fruiting bodies of Fomitopsis pinicola led to the isolation and identification of 28 lanostane triterpenoids including 11 new compounds (1-11) and 17 known analogues (12-28). Their structures were elucidated by extensive one-dimensional NMR, two-dimensional NMR, and MS spectra. All isolates were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity in vitro, and effect on glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Compounds 1, 4, 22, 23, and 27 inhibited the nitric oxide released from the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell assay with IC50 values in the range of 21.4-27.2 µM. Compounds 18, 22, 23, and 28 showed strong PTP1B inhibitory activity with IC50 values in the range of 20.5-29.9 µM, comparable to that of the positive control of oleanolic acid (15.0 µM). Compounds 18 and 22 were confirmed to be good competitive inhibitors of PTP1B by kinetic analysis. In addition, compounds 18, 22, and 28 were found to stimulate glucose uptake in the insulin-resistant HepG2 cells in the dose from 6.25 to 100 µM. These findings indicated the potential of F. pinicola in the development of functional food or medicine for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Fomitopsis officinalis: a Species of Arboreal Mushroom with Promising Biological and Medicinal Properties.

Medicinal mushrooms of the order Polyporales have a long history of use, which is evidenced by the finding of dissected fruiting bodies with Ötzi, who lived over 5000 years ago. Because of its valuable biological properties and its use in 18th and 19th-century pharmacy, Fomitopsis officinalis used to be mass-collected. Moreover, the large demand for larch wood and non-wood materials (resin) caused an excessive exploitation of larch forests, which directly contributed to the disappearance of F. officinalis from its natural environment. The qualities of medicinal preparations obtained from the F. officinalis fruiting bodies are determined by the unique composition of its bioactive compounds, such as: triterpenoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, coumarins and phenolic compounds. It has been proved that both crude extracts and the compounds isolated from F. officinalis have a wide spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial effects.

Characterisation of Extracts and Anti-Cancer Activities of Fomitopsis pinicola.

Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw. Karst) is a common bracket fungus, with a woody texture. It is found predominantly in coniferous forests in temperate regions throughout Europe and Asia. Fomitopsis pinicola has been extensively used for medicinal purposes, particularly in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine. In this mini-review, the anti-cancer characteristics of F. pinicola extracts were investigated. In vitro experiments revealed the pro-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts, whilst two of three in vivo studies reported an inhibition of tumour growth and prolonged survival. Only studies wherein fungal specimens were sourced from Europe or Asia were included in this review, as samples sourced as F. pinicola from North America were probably not F. pinicola, but a different species. Although not one of the most revered fungal species, F. pinicola has been used as a medicinal fungus for centuries, as well as consumed as a health food supplement. To date, the results from only three in vivo studies, investigating anti-cancer properties, have been published. Further studies, using comprehensively identified specimens, are required to fully elucidate the anti-cancer properties of F. pinicola extracts.

Antidiabetic Properties of the Red Belt Conk Medicinal Mushroom Fomitopsis pinicola (Agaricomycetes) Extracts on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

The antidiabetic effect of different doses of water extract (WE) and ethanol extract (EE) was tested on a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Parameters were evaluated with normal control (NC), diabetes mellitus control (DM), and metformin (M) groups. In the experiment, nine groups were used with eight rats in each group and three doses of each WE and EE were used, with low, medium, and high doses. The results revealed that the DM group lost a significant amount of weight, whereas the NC group's weight increased throughout the experiment. After treatment with Fomitopsis pinicola, the EE group's weight increased gradually. Liver, kidney, and pancreas weight decreased after STZ injection and returned to normal in EE treated groups. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were observed to be significantly lower after F. pinicola treatment. Serum insulin levels were also restored to normal after mushroom extracts supplementation. Specifically, STZ-induced hyperglycemia was inhibited by high dose EE administration. The biochemical analysis revealed that high-dose EE treatment increased HDL-C and decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C. Results demonstrated that high-dose EE administration protected the organ tissues from oxidative stress by normalizing the antioxidant levels, and CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px suppressed the lethal effect of MDA. The study concluded that F. pinicola EE at the dose 300 mg/kg has a more hypoglycemic, hyperinsulinemic, antioxidant, and antihyperlipidemic effect than NC, DM, and M, and regulates hyperglycemia by increasing insulin secretion.

C30 and C31 Triterpenoids and Triterpene Sugar Esters with Cytotoxic Activities from Edible Mushroom Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw. Ex Fr.) Krast.

Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw. Ex Fr.) Krast has been commonly used as a health food source and antitumor agent. To uncover bioactive key composition of F. pinicola, in our study, we investigated the chemical constituents of a methanol extract of F. pinicola and thirty-five lanostane-type tritetpenoids; 13 new compounds (1-13) and twenty-two known analogues (14-35) were isolated. Among them, compounds 1-9 were C30 lanostane triterpenoids and triterpene sugar esters, while compounds 10-13 were C31 triterpenoids and triterpene sugar esters. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive 1D, 2D NMR, MS, and IR spectra. Furthermore, cytotoxic activities of all isolates against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480) were evaluated. The results showed that compounds 12, 14, 17, 18, 22, and 23 displayed cytotoxic effects against five human tumor cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 3.92-28.51 µM. Meanwhile, compounds 9 and 35 exhibited selected inhibitory activities against HL-60, SMMC-7721, and MCF-7 with IC50 values in the range of 13.57-36.01 µM. Furthermore, the flow cytometry analysis revealed that compounds 17, 22, and 35 induced apoptosis in HL-60 cell lines. Their structure-activity relationships were preliminarily reported. These findings indicate the vital role of triterpenoids and their glycosides in explaining antitumor effects of F. pinicola and provide important evidence for further development and utilization of this fungus.

[Effects of the Fomes officinalis Ames. polysaccharides on anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Fomes officinalis Ames. polysaccharides(FOPS) on anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance in mice. METHODS: Forty-eight mice were randomly divided into control group, low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group of FOPS (100, 200, 400 mg/kg). All mice were orally administered by 0.20 ml/10 g, once a day for 21 consecutive days. The effects of different doses of FOPS on the loaded-swimming time, the content of serum urea nitrogen, the blood lactic acid, the hepatic glycogen and the muscle glycogen after exercise, the survival time under hypoxia at normal pressure and the maintenance time after decapitation were observed. RESULTS: FOPS could significantly prolong the loaded-swimming time, decrease the contents of serum urea nitrogen , blood lactic acid and increase the contents of hepatic glycogen and muscle glycogen, significantly prolong the survival time under hypoxia and the maintenance time after decapitation comparing with the control group. Compared with the control group, FOPS could prolong the weight-bearing swimming time, anti-hypoxia survival time and respiratory maintenance time of mice after decapitation in a dose-dependent manner (P＜0.05 or 0.01). FOPS could decrease the contents of serum urea nitrogen and blood lactic acid, and increase the contents of hepatic glycogen and muscle glycogen in exercise mice, and most of them were significantly different (P＜0.05) or extremely significant (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: FOPS has anti-fatigue effects and can improve hypoxia tolerance.

Extracts of Polypore Mushroom Mycelia Reduce Viruses in Honey Bees.

Waves of highly infectious viruses sweeping through global honey bee populations have contributed to recent declines in honey bee health. Bees have been observed foraging on mushroom mycelium, suggesting that they may be deriving medicinal or nutritional value from fungi. Fungi are known to produce a wide array of chemicals with antimicrobial activity, including compounds active against bacteria, other fungi, or viruses. We tested extracts from the mycelium of multiple polypore fungal species known to have antiviral properties. Extracts from amadou (Fomes) and reishi (Ganoderma) fungi reduced the levels of honey bee deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) in a dose-dependent manner. In field trials, colonies fed Ganoderma resinaceum extract exhibited a 79-fold reduction in DWV and a 45,000-fold reduction in LSV compared to control colonies. These findings indicate honey bees may gain health benefits from fungi and their antimicrobial compounds.

Profiles of Little-Known Medicinal Polypores: Funalia trogii (Agaricomycetes).

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively characterize little-known polypores that have recently been found to possess anticancer activity and thus can be used in targeted cancer therapy. Funalia trogii is a polypore with bipolar distribution and has been found by harvesters working in taiga forests, broadleaf forests, and forest-steppes of the Holarctic, and in semiarid temperate forests of the Southern Hemisphere. Substances such as gibberellic acid, abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and natural cytokinin were determined in culture media of F. trogii. Also, laccases and peroxidases of spare action have been reported in F. trogii culture media. All of the aforementioned substances can be used in targeted cancer therapy, but further investigation of F. trogii is recommended; more details of its health benefits could expand its use in mycotherapy.

Lanostane triterpenoids from Fomitopsis officinalis and their trypanocidal activity.

Fomitopsis officinalis is a medicinal fungus, known as 'Agarikon', and is used traditionally in the treatment of asthma and rheumatism in Mongolia. The investigation of the chemical constituents of F. officinalis led to the isolation of 4 new lanostane triterpenoids together with 4 known triterpenoids. Inhibitory activity against Trypanosoma congolense, which causes fatal diseases in animals including livestock, was estimated for the isolated compounds. Compounds 2-5 and 8 exhibited moderate inhibition activities with IC50 values ranging from 7.0-27.1 µM.

Overview of the Biological Activities of a Methanol Extract from Wild Red Belt Conk, Fomitopsis pinicola (Agaricomycetes), Fruiting Bodies from Central Italy.

Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.) P. Karst. (Fomitopsidaceae) is a medicinal mushroom with a variety of healthy properties. In this study we tested the radical scavenging activity and antimicrobial and anticancer potential of methanol extracts of F. pinicola from central Italy. Molecular identification confirmed that the samples were F. pinicola; a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool search showed a close match (99% sequence identity) with European isolates of this species. The free radical scavenging capacities, measured by DPPH assay, showed that the extract activity was 3.5% that of Trolox. The MTT test, evaluated after 72 hours of treatment with increasing doses of extract (5-500 µg · mL-1), considerably inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in 2 human tumor cell lines. This reduction was coupled with a relevant induction of apoptosis in the human leukemia THP-1 cell line after 24 hours of treatment, but a relevant toxic effect occurred in the human colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cell line. The genotoxic potential of the methanol extracts was studied by single-cell gel electrophoresis of normal human leukocytes exposed to 20 µg extract at 37°C for 30 minutes; no DNA damage was observed. The F. pinicola methanol extract was found to have varying degrees of antifungal effects against the pathogenic fungi tested (minimum inhibitory concentration from 23.63 to 66.81 µg · mL-1). The results show that the tested F. pinicola extract has strong antimicrobial and chemo-preventive activities, but is a poor antioxidant.

Anti-MRSA activity of oxysporone and xylitol from the endophytic fungus Pestalotia sp. growing on the Sundarbans mangrove plant Heritiera fomes.

Heritiera fomes Buch.-Ham., a mangrove plant from the Sundarbans, has adapted to a unique habitat, muddy saline water, anaerobic soil, brackish tidal activities, and high microbial competition. Endophytic fungal association protects this plant from adverse environmental conditions. This plant is used in Bangladeshi folk medicine, but it has not been extensively studied phytochemically, and there is hardly any report on investigation on endophytic fungi growing on this plant. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from the surface sterilized cladodes and leaves of H. fomes. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria and the fungal strain, Candida albicans. Extracts of Pestalotia sp. showed activities against all test bacterial strains, except that the ethyl acetate extract was inactive against Escherichia coli. The structures of the purified compounds, oxysporone and xylitol, were elucidated by spectroscopic means. The anti-MRSA potential of the isolated compounds were determined against various MRSA strains, that is, ATCC 25923, SA-1199B, RN4220, XU212, EMRSA-15, and EMRSA-16, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 32 to 128 µg/ml. This paper, for the first time, reports on the anti-MRSA property of oxysporone and xylitol, isolation of the endophyte Pestalotia sp. from H. fomes, and isolation of xylitol from a Pestalotia sp.

In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of Fomitopsis Pinicola (Sw. Ex Fr.) Karst Chloroform (Fpkc) Extract Against S180 Tumor Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-toxic fomitopsis is has been traditionally used in folk medicine in many countries for its anti-inflammatory and anti-vascular disease activities. The present study investigates the antitumor effect of Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw. Ex Fr.) Karst chloroform extract (FPKc) on S180 tumor cells in vitro and in vivo and we determined the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: HPLC was employed to analyze the constituents of FPKc. In-vitro 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to quantify the growth inhibition of FPKc; Propidium iodide (PI) exclusion assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to observe the damage on the cell membrane and the changes of the cell morphology; Staining with Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (HO/PI) and the application of the Annexin V-FITC/PI analysis permitted to observe the cell death triggered by FPKc; DNA damage and cell cycle arrest were detected by flow cytometry; Rhodamine 123 (RH123) and Cytochrome C were used as dyes to investigate the alterations of the mitochondria. In-vivo tumor inhibition and mice survival time were determined. RESULTS: The results of the HPLC assay indicated that FPKc might contain DA (dehydroeburiconic acid), PA (pachymic acid), and ES (ergosterol), at percentages of 0.25%, 17.8%, and 10.5%, respectively. Concerning the study of the biological function, the results showed that FPKc exhibited preferential and significant suppression of proliferation on specific cell lines including S180, HL-60, U937, K562, SMMC-7721, and Eca-109 cells, which induced plasma membrane and cell morphology damages, triggering S180 tumor-cells late apoptosis and leading to DNA damage and S phase arrest. Mitochondria were suspected to play a vital role in these changes. In vivo data indicated that FPKc inhibited the solid tumor growth and prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, FPKc provoked only little damage on normal cells in vitro and also on normal tissues in vivo. CONCLUSION: FPKc inhibited S180 tumor cells growth and prolonged the lifespan of mice. In vitro, we found that FPKc induced S180 tumor cells apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, possibly via the mitochondrial pathway.

[Two new triterpenoid acids from Uighur medicine Fomes officinalis].

Two new lanostane triterpenoid acids, 12ß, 15α-dihydroxy-24-methyl-3,23-dioxo-lanosta-7,9(11)-dien-26-oic acid (1), and 3α, 12ß-dihydroxy-24-methyl-7,23-dioxo-lanosta-8-en-26-oic acid (2), were isolated from the methanolic extract of Uighur medicine Fomes officinalis. Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR and HR-MS). Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity assays revealed that both compound 1 and 2 show no inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells, and no cytotoxicity activities against HepG2 cells.

[Antitumor activity and structure-activity relationship of seven lanostane-type triterpenes from Fomitopsis pinicola and F. officinalis].

Seven lanostane-type triterpenes including fomitopsin C(1),3-keto-dehydrosulfurenic acid(2),dehydroeburiconic acid(3),3-acetyloxylanosta-8, 24-dien-21-oic acid(4),pinicolic acid A(5),trametenolic acid B(6),and eburicoic acid(7),were isolated from the fruitbodies of Fomitopsis pinicola and F. officinalis. In vitro assay, all compounds were evaluated against MCF-7, HeLa, HepG2 and A549 cells lines using the MTT assay and the structure-activity relationship of antitumor activity was discussed. The results showed that the seven compounds were more sensitive to MCF-7 cells.The IC50 value for MCF-7 was 2<5<4<1<3<6<7. H22 tumor mouse model was used to assay compounds 2, 3, 4 and 5 in vivo. Compounds 2 and 4 had obvious effect and the necrosis area and measurement were positively correlated. The results showed that compounds 2, 4 and 5 had significant antitumor activities at a dose of 20 mg•L⁻¹ with 65.31%, 56.71%, 58.72% suppression, respectively, approaching to CTX group with 69.19% suppression in subcutaneous H22-implanted mice.The results showed that these compounds had significant against the expression of VEGF, cytokines IL-4 and IFN-γ tumor, additionally, the structure-activity relationship of lanostane-type triterpenes indicated that the acetoxyl or carbonyl at C-3 and hydroxy at C-15 can enhance the antitumor activity.

Fomitopsis betulina (formerly Piptoporus betulinus): the Iceman's polypore fungus with modern biotechnological potential.

Higher Basidiomycota have been used in natural medicine throughout the world for centuries. One of such fungi is Fomitopsis betulina (formerly Piptoporus betulinus), which causes brown rot of birch wood. Annual white to brownish fruiting bodies of the species can be found on trees in the northern hemisphere but F. betulina can also be cultured as a mycelium and fruiting body. The fungus has a long tradition of being applied in folk medicine as an antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory agent. Probably due to the curative properties, pieces of its fruiting body were carried by Ötzi the Iceman. Modern research confirms the health-promoting benefits of F. betulina. Pharmacological studies have provided evidence supporting the antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, and immunomodulating activities of F. betulina preparations. Biologically active compounds such as triterpenoids have been isolated. The mushroom is also a reservoir of valuable enzymes and other substances such as cell wall (1→3)-α-D-glucan which can be used for induction of microbial enzymes degrading cariogenic dental biofilm. In conclusion, F. betulina can be considered as a promising source for the development of new products for healthcare and other biotechnological uses.