Ganoderma carnosum and Ganoderma pfeifferi: Metal concentration, phenolic content, and biological activity

ABSTRACT

Medicinal Ganoderma mushrooms have long tradition in Asia, and recently they began to be consumed in Europe as well. Among hundreds of Ganoderma species, only a few of them are intensively investigated, i.e., G. lucidum and G. applanatum, whereas the chemistry and bioactivities of the other species, especially of European origin, still remain unknown. This study comprises detailed chemical analysis of two Ganoderma species growing wild in Turkey, G. pfeifferi and G. carnosum. Metal composition of both species shows high concentrations of biogenic metals. Phenolic composition of the isolated extracts of G. carnosum and G. pfeifferi shows that these species are rich in simple phenolic acids, such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, but also in flavonoids. These compounds are found to be carriers of the antioxidant activity but also enzyme inhibition activity of the analyzed extracts. Overall results indicate that these two Ganoderma species have strong potential to be used for medicinal purposes.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidant activity
• enzyme inhibition
• Ganoderma carnosum Pat
• Ganoderma pfeifferi Bres
• phenolic content

Additional information

Funding

This work was carried out within project no. 4632-D2-16 supported by the Scientific Research Council of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, as well as project no. RO0418 (“Sustainable systems and technologies, improving crop production for higher quality of production of food, feed, and raw materials, under conditions of changing climate”) funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Czech Republic.