Polypore fungi of Caucasian alder as a source of antioxidant and antitumor agents

Macroscopic fungi on Caucasian alder wood(Alnus subcordata)were identified and tested as a source of betulin and betulinic acid(the most important metabolites of the Betulaceae family)to evaluate levels of phenols,flavonoids and antioxidant activity.Ganoderma applanatum,Lenzites betulina,Trichaptum biforme,Rigidoporus ulamrius,Fomes fomentarius,Schizophyllum commune,Auricularia mesenterica,and Trametes versicolor were among those identified,and they differed significantly in the level of betulin and betulinic acid and phenols,flavonoids and antioxidant properties in fungal tissues extracted with methanol and with ethanol(p≤0.01).G.applanatum had the most betulin(3.642%)and S.commune the most betulinic acid(1.413%).All tested fungi had high antioxidant activity,and L.betulina had the highest(97.775%).The highest amounts of phenol(719.993 mg mL-1)and flavonoids(361.403 mg mL-1)were found in the ethanolic extract from G.applanatum.Considering the results of this study and the low cost and convenient access to these fungi,they should be good sources for producing different drugs.

Correction to:Polypore fungi of Caucasian alder as a source of antioxidant and antitumor agents

In the original publication of the article,the section`Conclusions’was not included.The paragraph is given below.Conclusions As determined various fungi live on Caucasian Alder trees including Ganoderma applanatum,Lenzites betulina,Trichaptum biforme,Rigidoporus ulamrius,Fomes fomentarius,Schizophyllum commune,Auricularia mesenterica,and Trametes versicolor.The highest amounts of betulin and betulinic acid were obtained in Ganoderma applanatum(3.642%)and Schizophyllum commune(1.413%),respectively.The lowest amount of both compounds were in L.betulina.All tested fungi had high antioxidant activity.The highest amounts of phenol(719.993 mg/ml)and fl avonoids(361.403 mg/ml)were found in the ethanolic solvent associated with G.applanatum fungus.It seems that due to high growth rate of fungi,low production cost and the special benefi ts of betulin and betulinic acid in particular,there is a good prospect for the production of various drugs from these resources.