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

Abstract

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.

Old growth forests and large old trees as critical organisms connecting ecosystems and human health. A review

“…The biomedical properties shown by both crude extracts and the compounds isolated from Fomitopsis officinalis fruiting bodies depend on the unique composition of its bioactive compounds, such as coumarins, organic acids, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids (Muszynska et al 2020 ).…”

“…3 the chemical structures of some specific phytochemicals found in Fomitopsis officinalis such as fomefficinol A and B, and fomitopsin C and F (anticancer and antiviral, respectively) are shown together with those of other isolated compounds endowed with anti-inflammatory (eburicoic acid) and antimicrobial (6-chloro-phenylcoumarin, Fig. 3 and Table 1 ) properties (Muszynska et al 2020 ). Almost extinct in Europe and Asia, specimens of Agarikon can still be found in the old-growth forests of both British Columbia and the North-Western United States (Stamets et al 2019 ).…”

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

“…It was then progressively replaced with agaricin isolated from the mushroom itself. Indeed, modern studies on both crude extracts and compounds isolated from F. officinalis demonstrated a wide spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activity 3,5 .…”

Neurocosmetics in Skincare—The Fascinating World of Skin–Brain Connection: A Review to Explore Ingredients, Commercial Products for Skin Aging, and Cosmetic Regulation

“…Laricifomes officinalis is a wood-rotting fungus present on coniferous tree trunks in the northern region of China and in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Canada, and Europe. Vital Especialidades market it as a functional ingredient for anti-aging cosmetic products [466,467].…”