Qualitative analysis of secondary metabolites of chaga mushroom ( Inonotus Obliquus): phenolics, fatty acids, and terpenoids

Abstract

Chaga mushroom is a black perennial fungus that usually parasites on adult birch tree trunks. It has been conventionally used as a health-promoting supplement and nutraceutical in different cultures for centuries. The desired clarification of the profile of chaga secondary metabolites responsible for various bioactive properties has been continuously pursued for decades but has only partially been unveiled. Meanwhile, in recent years, attention to food safety, quality stability, authentication, and sustainability of chaga products from the wild has become increasingly popular in the current commercial market and related small/medium-size food industry enterprises. Phenolic, hydroxylated fatty acid, and terpenoid compounds produced by sclerotia of chaga mushrooms are bioactive constituents with antioxidant, anti-microorganism, and anti-tumor activities. Some new secondary metabolites of chaga mushroom have occasionally been reported previously, and effects of environment (e.g., cultivation method, harvesting region) on compositional characteristics noted. However, these have rarely and systematically compared the compositions of their material with a reliable database of known secondary metabolites of chaga. Therefore, this study aimed to achieve a rapid screening and characterization of secondary metabolites of Newfoundland chaga. A total of 111 phenolic, 63 fatty/aromatic acid, and 108 terpenoid constituents was primarily identified using HPLC-ToF-MS (high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled with time-of-flight mass spectra), among which 161 were newly reported. In addition, an update of the compositional database of chaga was provided as supplementary materials to help utilization and development of Newfoundland chaga mushroom as edible-fungi. Conclusively, chaga mushroom is a very promising food supplement abundant in numerous fungal secondary metabolites that were rarely found in other edible materials, even though its safety (e.g., oxalate content) aspects is still in need of additional investigation for being considered as a viable commercial nutraceutical.

The Effect of Green Extraction Technologies on the Chemical Composition of Medicinal Chaga Mushroom Extracts

“…Peng and Shahidi [ 64 ] identified 37 unmodified saturated/unsaturated fatty acids in Chaga samples. They confirmed the presence of lauric, myristic, palmoitoleic, linolenic, linoleic, stearic, palmitic, and oleic acids, similar to our research.…”

Quercetin Fatty Acid Monoesters (C2:0–C18:0): Enzymatic Preparation and Antioxidant Activity

“…The compositional determination of reaction products used the LC–MS system according to previous studies, − as summarized below.…”

Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential

“…In Canada, the Métis, Cree, Ojibway, Denesuline peoples of Northern Saskatchewan, and the Gitksan peoples of British Columbia all have myths about Chaga’s creation ( Zmitrovich et al, 2020 ). It is said that “Wisakecak,” (a mythological character), was responsible for hurling the scab of Chaga onto the birch tree ( Rogers, 2016 ; Peng and Shahidi, 2022 ). Some historians argue that Wisakecak discovered a birch tree while taking a stroll in the forest.…”

“…The Denesuline would sometimes lay out two rows of powdered Chaga, one for each possible future event. Each line was set on fire at the same time, and whichever one finished first was thought to determine what would happen next ( Chung et al, 2010 ; Peng and Shahidi, 2022 ). Again, the Denesuline of Saskatchewan used a divination procedure with finely split intestinal fungus ( Rogers, 2006 ).…”

“…A comprehensive literature review (1900–2022) was conducted to assess the biological activities, mycochemical constituents, medicinal, and some nutritional potential of Chaga mushroom to supplement prior attempts focused on medicinal value ( Milyuhina et al, 2022 ; Teplyakova et al, 2022 ). Globally, Chaga mushrooms are known for their therapeutic benefits, and novel bioactive metabolites in pharmaceutical, chemical, and cosmetic products ( Peng and Shahidi, 2022 ). The application of Chaga is not limited to the medical field alone.…”