No abstract

This paper opens a taxonomical survey on the genera of Meruliaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) presented in Russian mycobiota. All the meruliaceous fungi represent an obligate component of heterotrophic block of forest ecosystems and considerable demanded biotechnological resource. The purpose of the present elaboration is a revision of East European and North Asian material on Bjerkandera genus highlighting its species' and intraspecific morphological variability and substrate specialization. The macroscopic descriptions are based on a study of fresh and dried specimens. The material of the herbaria of Komarov Botanical Institute (St. Petersburg, LE) and Institute of Zoology and Botany of Estonian Agricultural University (TAA) is studied. Micromorphological analysis is included the hyphal system revealing, the hyphae, basidia/basidiospores morphometry, and microchemical tests of the structures in question. The genus Bjerkandera is accepted in its original Karstenian sense, although the concepts by Pilát, Corner, Pouzar, and Zmitrovich et al. were discussed. The genus is characterized by two-layered context with rather loose tomentum and dense layer above the hymenophore, monomitic to pseudodimitic hyphal system, clamped generative hyphae, and ellipsoid-cylindrical basidiospores not staining in Cotton blue and Melzer's reagent. Only two species, Bjerkandera adusta and B. fumosa were recognized in the genus, and a possible position of B. subsimulans and B. terebrans was discussed, too. The polymorphism of B. adusta is exhaustively presented and the form tegumentosa was epitypified and described. The polymorphism of B. fumosa is also presented, and the form flavipora was correctly published and epitypified. The relationships between two species are discussed and the key for species delimitation is presented here. Distributional patterns are presented for both species as well as their substrate range. The substrates of B. adusta and B. fumosa in old-growth arboreta of Saint Petersburg are presented.

The first data on aphyllophoraceous fungi of “Urochishche Golovkina Dubrava” protected forest area (Korsakovskii District of the Orel Region) are presented. Among 74 fungal species registered there 11 species are new for the Orel Region.

A review of research field related to well-known Russian medicinal fungal material, Chaga, is caused by the need to summarize information about the effects of its individual compounds on molecular targets of cancer cells. Chaga raw material (sterile bodies of the fungus Inonotus obliquus) is a complex fungus tissue which includes wood degradation products, and products of assimilation wood tissue components by the fungus. Chaga raw material is rich in polyphenols, triterpenoids of fungal and plant origin, and polysaccharides. In the early 1960s, Chaga raw material was included in the USSR State Pharmacopoeia and was recommended for use as a non-specific drug for the treatment of gastritis, stomach ulcers, polyposis, precancerous diseases and some forms of malignant tumors in cases where radiation therapy and surgical intervention are not destinated. However, large pharmacological potential of Chaga at the current moment seems to be still not realized. First of all, the multidirectional effect of various Chaga bioactive complexes on the molecular targets of the cancer cell is obvious: inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases and proapoptotic (triterpenoids), immuno-mediated cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory (polysaccharides), genoprotective and antiapoptotic (polyphenols). It is obviously that complex action of these substances on cancer tissue has less pronounced effect than the targeted one. Consequently, the clinical trials of purified bioactive complexes of chaga, primarily of proapoptotic (inotodiol, betulinic acid) and anti-inflammatory (3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone) action, are on the agenda. Based on the data reviewed, it is suggested that careful study of Chaga raw material in the future may lead to elaboration of new and more effective pharmaceuticals

Nomenclature revision and enlarged taxonomical descriptions are still needed for some well-known species whose interpretation is complicated by many nomenclature or taxonomical problems. The polyporoid fungus widely known as Trametes ochracea (= Coriolus zonatus) belongs to such a problematic group. At the same time, recent data show that this species, like its sister species T. versicolor, seems to be a perspective subject for fungal biotechnology and pharmacology. This article is devoted to stabilizing the nomenclature of the species in question via lectotypification and epitypification of Boletus multicolor. It will clarify the name T. multicolor as applied to this species is nomenclaturally correct and useful, free of further problems. An expanded species description and cultural characterization of epitype materials are presented.