菌絲體

Background

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal fungus belonging to the order Polyporus, generally refers to the genus Ganoderma, which includes more than 200 different species. They are mainly distributed in China, Taiwan and Japan. G. lucidum usually grows in the place with high humidity and dim light, such as the roots of rotting trees. Since G. lucidum only grows in certain species, the wild G. lucidum becomes scarce. Besides, the quality of the wild G. lucidum is hard to control. Therefore, most of the G. lucidum products currently on the market are produced by artificial cultivation.

G. lucidum has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years. It is one of the most famous Chinese medicines. According to the scientific researches, G. lucidum contains numerous active compounds, including more than 140 triterpenes and rich polysaccharides. "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that G. lucidum can be used for liver disease, cough, palpitation, loss of appetite and insomnia. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that G. lucidum has the effects on promoting immune system, preventing cardiovascular diseases and improving neurasthenia. Such evidence leads G. lucidum to a new level. In addition, since it is hard to obtain G. lucidum fruit body with stable quality, G. lucidum mycelium with stable quality produced by submerged cultivation has gradually become one of the most popular health products.

小故事介紹

靈芝為多孔菌目中的藥用真菌，一般泛指靈芝屬，其包含兩百多種不同的靈芝品種，主要分布於中國、台灣及日本地區。靈芝一般生長在濕度較高且光線昏暗的環境中，例如腐爛樹木的根部。目前野生的靈芝已相當稀少，只能在特定的樹種上發現，且其品質也不容易控制，因此，目前市面上所見之靈芝大部分皆為人工培養出來的。

靈芝在中醫上的使用已達2000年之久，是中國傳統中草藥中最負盛名的一種，根據科學研究顯示，靈芝含有種類相當繁多的活性物質，其中包括140多種的三萜類與豐富的多醣體。在”本草綱目”中記載，靈芝具有治療肝臟疾病、咳嗽、心悸、食慾不振及失眠等功效，而近年來，靈芝也陸續被證實在促進免疫系統、預防心血管疾病及改善神經衰弱方面皆有療效，使靈芝受到許多人的青睞。此外，由於品質穩定的靈芝子實體取得不易，利用液態培養生產之品質穩定的靈芝菌絲體也漸漸成為現代人的保健聖品之一。

Background

Inonotus obliquus, which is also known as Chaga, is a fungus belonging to the family Hymenochaetaceae. They are mainly distributed in the areas of 40o ~ 50o north latitude, such as North America, Russia, North Korea, North Europe and China. I. obliquus only grow on Betula platyphylla. The appearance of I. obliquus fruit body presents as a black clump. Owing to its strong vitality, once I. obliquus parasitizes the B. platyphylla, it will continuously absorb the nutrients from the hosts until they die. This special growth mode is similar to that of human cancer cells, giving I. obliquus the name of “cancer of B. platyphylla”.

The active compounds in I. obliquus are mainly polysaccharides, phenolic and triterpene. Since 16th century, I. obliquus has been extensively used in several regions, including Russia, North Europe, Finland and Poland. It can be used for treating malignant tumors, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases, and has no significant side effects. In 1955, The Medical Academy of Science in Moscow, a precursor of First Moscow State Medical University, has even declared I. obliquus as an anti-cancer substance. On the top of that, in the past few decades, studies have also demonstrated that I. obliquus has the effects on anti-virus, preventing high blood pressure, anti-oxidative and promoting immune system. Such evidence literally makes I. obliquus a superstar in the field of health foods.

小故事介紹

白樺茸又名為樺褐孔菌，為繡革孔菌科中的一種藥用真菌，主要分布於北緯40o ~ 50o的溫帶氣候，如北美洲、俄羅斯、北歐、韓國及中國等地區。白樺茸只會生長在白樺樹上，其子實體呈現黑色塊狀，由於白樺茸的生命力極強，一但其寄生於白樺樹之上，便會持續吸取宿主的養分，直至宿主枯萎。這種猶如人類癌細胞一般的生長方式，也讓白樺茸有著”樺樹之癌”的名稱。

白樺茸的活性成分主要為多醣體、酚類化合物及三萜化合物。早在十六世紀，俄羅斯、北歐、芬蘭及波蘭等民間地區就已廣泛利用白樺茸於治療惡性腫瘤、心臟病、糖尿病等疾病，且皆無明顯之嚴重副作用，在1955年時，莫斯科醫學院更是宣布白樺茸為抗癌物質，以此奠定了其在藥用真菌中的重要地位。在過去幾十年中，對白樺茸藥理活性的研究也如雨後春筍般地出現，其陸續被證實具有抗病毒、預防高血壓、抗氧化及促進免疫力等功效，使白樺茸成為醫藥及保健食品中的一顆巨星。此外，在品質穩定的白樺茸子實體取得不易的現今，利用液態培養生產之品質穩定的白樺茸菌絲體也漸漸在保健食品中崛起。

Background

Hericium erinaceus is an edible mushroom belonging to family Hericiaceae. Because of its appearance looks like a monkey’s head, it is also known as monkey head mushroom. H. erinaceus is mainly distributed in North America, Europe and Asia. As the previous royal palace food, H. erinaceus is commonly found in traditional Chinese delicacies. In addition, H. erinaceus is a high-protein, low-fat food and the taste similar to meat, it is very popular among vegetarians.

In addition to being used as general edible mushroom, H. erinaceus is also widely used as medicinal mushrooms. H. erinaceus is rich in active compounds which including polysaccharides, erinacines, hericenones and more than 16 amino acids. In traditional Chinese medicine, H. erinaceus is often used to invigorate the spleen and stomach and treat symptoms such as indigestion and insomnia. In recent years, scientists have identified an active compound from the mycelium of H. erinaceus, Erinacines A, which is a small compound that can easily cross the blood-brain barrier. This active compound can provide protection to nerve cells, and effectively improve neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

小故事介紹

猴頭菇為齒菌科中的一種食用真菌，因其子實體圓而厚實且外型酷似猴子的頭而得名，主要分布於北美洲、歐洲及亞洲。猴頭菇作為曾經的王宮貴族食品，常見於中國傳統的名貴佳餚之中。此外，因猴頭菇屬於高蛋白、低脂肪的食品，且口感近似肉類，作為肉品的替代，也廣為素食主義者喜愛。

猴頭菇除了作為一般食用菇蕈外，作為藥用菇蕈也廣為人知。猴頭菇含有豐富的有效活性成分，包含多醣體、猴頭菇素 (Erinacines)、猴頭菇酮 (Hericenones) 及超過16種以上的胺基酸。在傳統中醫中，猴頭菇常用於健脾養胃、治療消化不良及失眠等症狀，而在近幾年來，科學家發現液態培養之猴頭菇菌絲體中含有猴頭菇素A (Erinacines A)，此種活性物質能夠通過血腦屏障 (blood–brain barrier) 到達大腦，並對大腦神經細胞提供保護，可以有效延緩及改善神經退化性疾病，如阿茲海默症及帕金森氏症。

Background

Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus belonging to genus Ophiocordyceps, usually parasitizes in the larvae of Hepialidae. They are mainly distributed in alpine regions of China, Nepal and Bhutan. The spores of C. sinensis parasitize worms and continuously absorb the nutrients from them. When winter comes, the hosts will die because their bodies are full of hyphae, and their internal tissues and shells will combine with the hyphae to form a hard mycelium. Once spring comes, the mycelium will continue to grow and eventually generate a rod-shaped fruiting body from the head of the worm, resulting in half of it being insects and half being plants. The term "winter worm, summer grass" is also derived from its special growth mode.

Cordyceps sinensis, which is rich in polysaccharides, proteins, nucleotides and mannitol, is the top medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. “Compendium of Materia Medica” records that C. sinensis can be used to treat coughs, respiratory disorders and kidney disorders. Recently, studies have also shown that C. sinensis is effective in immune regulation, improving sports performance and increasing strength. Given that C. sinensis have high health value and is difficult to collect, its price on the market is always high. Therefore, the mycelium produced by the submerged cultivation, which has similar nutritional value to the fruit body of C. sinensis, has attracted more and more attention from the market.

小故事介紹

冬蟲夏草為線蟲草屬中的一種真菌，通常寄生於鱗翅目蝙蝠蛾科昆蟲的幼蟲體內，主要分布於中國、尼泊爾及不丹的高海拔地區。蟲草菌的孢子在寄生進幼蟲體內後，會持續吸取幼蟲養分並生長，直至幼蟲死亡。到了冬季，幼蟲會因體內充滿菌絲而死亡，其體內組織及外殼會與菌絲結合成堅硬的菌絲體。待春天來臨時，菌絲會繼續開始生長，最後從幼蟲的頭部長出棒狀的子實體，並形成半邊為蟲體，半邊為植物的景象。”冬蟲夏草”一詞也是源自於其特殊的生長方式。

冬蟲夏草含有豐富的多醣體、蛋白質、核苷酸及甘露醇，為傳統中藥之上藥，與人參及鹿茸齊名。在本草綱目中記載，冬蟲夏草可用於治療咳嗽、呼吸系統疾病及腎臟疾病。而近年來，隨著科學研究的進步，越來越多的活性成分被鑑定出來，並揭露其在免疫調節、改善運動表現及提升精力方面皆有效果。因冬蟲夏草有著極高的保健營養價值，且野生子實體的採集難度高，使其在市面上的價格始終居高不下。因此，利用液態培養方式量產與冬蟲夏草子實體有相近營養價值之菌絲體即越發受到市場重視。

Background

Antrodia cinnamomea, a medicinal mushroom endemic to Taiwan, is a fungus belonging to the family Fomitopsidaceae. Because of its bright orange appearance and high health value, Antrodia cinnamomea is also known as the “Ruby in the forest”. Antrodia only grows in the trunk of Cinnamomum kanehirae. However, with C. Kanehirae being listed as a conservation plant, wild Antrodia has almost disappeared from the market. At present, most of the Antrodia on the market are generated by artificial woods cultivation. But, since C. kanehirae woods are quite rare and it often takes more than one year to grow fruit bodies, Antrodia is still a very precious health food.

Until now, more than 78 compounds have been identified in Antrodia cinnamomea, which are mainly triterpenoids, polysaccharides and quinones. Furthermore, as more researchers have devoted themselves to the research of it, more than 300 related scientific papers have been published. Studies have shown that both the fruit body cultured from wood and the mycelium cultured in solid or liquid state have been found to have multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, liver-protecting, anti-viral, anti-allergic, neuroprotective and anti-cancer. Given its wide range of pharmacological effects, Antrodia is also used as a natural supplement for adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

小故事介紹

牛樟芝為多孔菌科薄孔菌屬的一種真菌，是台灣特有的藥用菇蕈，因其橘紅色的亮麗外觀與極高的保健價值，更有”森林中紅寶石”的美名。牛樟芝只會生長在台灣特有的常綠闊葉大喬木牛樟樹 (Cinnamomum kanehirai) 樹幹內中空的心材上，而在牛樟樹已被列為保育植物的現今，野生的牛樟芝也幾乎消失在市場上。目前市面上的牛樟芝多為人工椴木培養，但由於牛樟椴木相當稀少，且牛樟芝往往需要1年以上才能生長出子實體，因此讓牛樟芝顯得十分珍貴。

目前牛樟芝中已被鑑定出的化合物已達78種以上，主要為三萜類 (Terpenoids)、多醣體 (Polysaccharides) 及醌類 (Quinone)。而近年來隨著越多的研究者投入牛樟芝的研究中，相關的文獻發表已超過300篇。根據研究顯示，不論是椴木培養的子實體或是固態及液態培養的菌絲體，皆被發現具有抗氧化、抗發炎、保肝、抗病毒、抗過敏、降三高、保護神經及抗癌等特性。鑒於其有著廣泛的藥用生理活性，牛樟芝也常用作輔助化學治療及放射治療的天然補充品。