Production of pharmaceutically active compounds from Grifola frondosa by solid state and submerged cultivation

Grifola frondosa is a lignin degrading Basidiomycete, an edible and pharmaceutically promising mushroom. In the proposed project, strains of G. frondosa from different geographic regions in Slovenia and China will be taxonomically characterised, and best productive basic cultures will be selected for cultivation. Three different biotechnological processes will be applied and optimised: (1) submerged cultivation in a stirred tank bioreactor for production of active fungal biomass in a liquid phase, (2) controlled solid state cultivation of fungal biomass in a horizontal bioreactor, (3) fruiting bodies production in polyethylene bags filled with sterile secondary raw materials from wood industry and agriculture (straw, woodcuts, wheat bran). Extraction and isolation of the main groups of pharmacologically active substances (extra- and intracellular polysaccharides, proteoglycans) from fruiting bodies and mycelium biomass will be adapted and optimised. Immunomodulatory effects (induction of IL, IF and TNF) of purified extracts and/or isolated active compounds will be tested in vitro on human cell lines (PBMC). Project results will contribute to the scientific knowledge about immunomodulatory compounds from Griffola, and to the potential development of immunostimulatory pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use.