Scale-up study on the fed-batch fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum for the hyperproduction of ganoderic acid and Ganoderma polysaccharides

Optimization of limonin invertase production by scaling up Aspergillus tubingensis UA13 fermentation to a 5-l scale

The enzymatic approach is a highly effective and the major scientific method to eliminating bitter components in citrus-derived products nowadays. Microbial production of limonin invertase stands out due to its pivotal role in the removal of the bitter substance, limonin. The optimization of fermentation parameters and the study of scale-up fermentation are imperative for product commercialization. In this study, we focused on optimizing stirring speed, fermentation temperature, and initial pH to enhance the growth and limonin invertase production by the Aspergillus tabin strain UA13 in a 5-l stirred-tank bioreactor. Our results revealed the following optimal parameters are: a stirring speed of 300 rpm, a fermentation temperature of 35°C and a pH 5.0. Under these optimized conditions, the limonin invertase activity reached its peak at 63.38 U ml-1, representing a 1.67-fold increase compared to the unoptimized conditions (38.10 U ml-1), while also reducing the fermentation duration by 12 h. Furthermore, our research demonstrated that limonin invertase effectively hydrolyze limonin in grapefruit juice, reducing its content from 13.28 to 2.14 μg ml-1, as determined by HPLC, resulting in a 6.21-fold reduction of the bitter substance.

Ganoderma lucidum Mycelia Mass and Bioactive Compounds Production through Grape Pomace and Cheese Whey Valorization

Numerous compounds obtained from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum have evidenced renowned bioactive characteristics. Controlled fermentation to generate fungal mycelia confers several advantages, specifically when the valorization of agro-industrial streams as fermentation feedstocks is included. Submerged fermentation of a newly isolated Greek strain of G. lucidum was performed using conventional synthetic media and, also, grape pomace extract (GPE) and cheese whey permeate (CWP) under static and shaking conditions. Under shaking conditions, maximum biomass with GPE and supplementation with organic nitrogen reached 17.8 g/L. The addition of an elicitor in CWP resulted in a significant improvement in biomass production that exceeded synthetic media. Overall, agitation demonstrated a positive impact on biomass productivity and, therefore, on process optimization. Crude intracellular and extracellular polysaccharides were extracted and evaluated regarding antioxidant activity and polysaccharide and protein content. FTIR analysis confirmed the preliminary chemical characterization of the crude extracts. This study introduces the design of a bioprocessing scenario to utilize food industry by-products as onset feedstocks for fungal bioconversions to obtain potential bioactive molecules within the concept of bioeconomy.

A new strategy to improve Ganoderma polysaccharides production by symbiotic fungi elicitors through activating the biosynthetic pathway

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) attract growing attention due to their remarkable bioactivities, but the low content in raw materials remains a bottleneck severely restricting their application. We previously found a higher polysaccharides accumulation in Ganoderma lucidum cultured in continuous cropping soil, and soil symbiotic fungi are presumed as the key among many factors. Herein, 33 symbiotic fungi were isolated from the soil, and fungal elicitors were prepared to investigate their biotic eliciting effect on GLP biosynthesis. Most elicitors were found to significantly improve GLP production, among which the NO.16 molecularly identified as Penicillium citrinum, exhibited the optimum eliciting effect with GLP yield increasing by 3.4 times. Differences in the biosynthetic pathway genes expressions and the monosaccharide components of GLP were further analyzed. The transcriptions of the main genes of GLP biosynthetic pathway were up-regulated under PCE treatments, suggesting it improves GLP production by activating transcriptions of the biosynthetic pathway genes. Moreover, PCE eliciting significantly altered the monosaccharide compositions of GLP with Gal, Man, GalA, GlcA, and Fuc increasing by 8.17 %, 5.68 %, 5.41 %, 2.66 %, and 1.51 % respectively, but Glc decreased by 23.43 %, which may result in the activity change. It can serve as a new strategy to improve GLP production.

Advances in Production of Medicinal Mushrooms Biomass in Solid State and Submerged Bioreactors

Production of mushroom fruit bodies using farming technology could hardly meet the increasing demand of the world market. During the last several decades, there have been various basic and applied studies on fungal physiology, metabolism, process engineering, and (pre)clinical studies. The fundamental aspects of solid-state cultivation of various kinds of medicinal mushroom mycelia in various types of bioreactors were established. Solid-state cultivation of medicinal mushrooms for their biomass and bioactive metabolites production appear very suitable for veterinary use. Development of comprehensive submerged technologies using stirred tank and airlift bioreactors is the most promising technology for fast and large-scale production of medicinal fungi biomass and their pharmaceutically active products for human need. The potentials initiate the development of new drugs and some of the most attractive over-the-counter human and veterinary remedies. This article is to overview the engineering achievements in solid state and submerged cultivations of medicinal mushrooms in bioreactors.

Advances in Pilot-Scale Stirred Bioreactors in Solid-State and Submerged Cultivations of Medicinal Mushrooms

Great interest for large-scale production of medicinal mushroom biomass and various pharmaceutically active compounds production dictates the development of comprehensive technologies. Solid state and submerged cultivations in bioreactors represent the most promising technologies for fast and large amount production of medicinal fungi biomass and pharmaceutically active products for human and veterinary need. There are many stages from shaking culture studies to large-scale industrial production. Pilot-scale studies represent the bridge and the balance between the gap of laboratory and industrial scale. Therefore it is not a surprise that most of pilot-scale results and experiences remain uncovered industrial secrets. This chapter is an overview of available engineering achievements in submerged and solid-state cultivation experiences in pilot-scale bioreactors.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Conversions of Olive Mill Wastewater-Based Media by Pleurotus pulmonarius Cultures

Pleurotus pulmonarius mushroom was cultivated on liquid cultures with olive mill wastewaters (OMWs) of initial phenolic compound concentrations of 0 (control), 1, 2 and 3 g/L and glucose at initial concentrations of 40 and 60 g/L. The ability of the fungus to grow on media containing toxic compounds enriched with glucose was assessed through biomass production, glucose consumption, polysaccharide (IPS) accumulation and total cellular lipids biosynthesis, while the total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant component monitoring were also assessed during a 43-day fermentation. An analysis of the total simple sugar composition of IPS and the total fatty acid composition of lipids was performed. The phenolic reduction and media decolorization were also monitored. Results showed that the addition of glucose in OMW-based media had a positive effect on biomass, IPS and lipid production and increased the unsaturated fatty acids and TPC concentration. The maximum recorded values were the following: biomass 32.76 g/L, IPS 4.38 g/L (14.70%, w/w in dry weight), lipids 2.85 g/L (11.69%, w/w in dry weight). The mycelial lipids were unsaturated and dominated by linoleic acid, whereas IPS were composed mainly of glucose. Significant phenolic compound reduction (87–95%) and color removal (70–85%) occurred. Results strongly suggest the potentiality of P. pulmonarius utilization in the OMW treatment.

Optimization of process parameters for naringinase production by Aspergillus tubingensis UA13 and pilot scale-up study

To improve the naringinase production of Aspergillus tubingensis UA13, shorten the fermentation period, and verify its industrial application value, naringinase production conditions were optimized, and 5 L scale-up study in stirred tank bioreactor was carried out. Parameters, including carbon, nitrogen sources and inducer, optimal seed age, inoculum amount, temperature and pH, were adjusted and optimized in shaking flask. Keeping pH at the optimal value 6 in bioreactor, dissolved oxygen was monitored during the fermentation and the optimal stirring rate was investigated. In 5 L scale-up study, the highest naringinase activity was 72.62 U/mL, which was 1.75 times higher than that (41.52 U/mL) in shaking flask and the fermentation period was shortened by 24 h.

Impact of olive mill wastewaters on the physiological behavior of a wild-type new Ganoderma resinaceum isolate

A new wild-type Ganoderma resinaceum isolate was cultivated on glucose-enriched liquid cultures with olive mill wastewaters (OMWs) in initial phenolic compounds concentrations 0.0 (control), 0.5, 0.8, and 1.5 g/l. The effect of the fungus on the reduction of phenolics and color was assessed, whereas biomass production, glucose consumption, intra-cellular (IPS) and extra-cellular (EPS) polysaccharides biosynthesis, antioxidant activity of the biomass, and laccase synthesis were monitored. Results showed that significant phenolic reduction (94.5%) and decolorization (76.5%) occurred, 14.6 g/l of biomass was produced, glucose was almost totally consumed, EPS were produced in sufficient amounts (0.79 g/l), whereas the presence of OMWs enhanced the synthesis of IPS (maximum absolute values 4.0-5.2 g/l corresponding to 35-42% w/w). Kinetic analysis demonstrated that EPS and IPS values fluctuated with time, regardless of the available amount of glucose in the media, showing a maximum in the 17th day of culture. Laccase was highly synthesized in the middle of the fermentation, reaching the maximum value of 14 U/ml. Little growth was however observed at 1.5 g/l phenolics. Strong correlation between total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activity has been noticed in the methanolic extracts of the mycelium. Results strongly suggest the potentiality of G. resinaceum utilization in the OMW waste treatment.

Advanced biological sequential treatment of mature landfill leachate using aerobic activated sludge SBR and fungal bioreactor

This study utilized Penicillium spp. to treat mature landfill leachate (MLL) in a continuous bioreactor and batch experimental tests under non-sterile conditions. MLL characteristics such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), soluble COD (sCOD), total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), and color removal efficiency were determined. The lignocellulosic enzymatic activity of laccase (Lac), lignin-peroxidase (LiP), and manganese-peroxidase (MnP) was also determined. The batch experimental test was carried out with raw and pretreated MLL containing the initial NH4 +-N concentrations of 0, 105, 352, and 914 mg/L. A maximum COD reduction of 41% and maximum enzymatic activity of 193, 37, and 25 U/L for Lac, LiP and MnP was recorded for the MLL containing 352 mg/L NH4 +-N. The continuous bioreactor exhibited maximum values of 52, 54, 60, 58, and 75 percentage of COD, sCOD, TC, TOC, and color removal efficiency with MLL containing 352 mg/L NH4 +-N that was pretreated at HRT 120 h, while the maximum detected lignocellulosic enzymatic activities were 149, 27, and 16 U/L for Lac, LiP, and MnP, respectively. A total of 64% COD reduction was achieved from the raw MLL considering 12% COD and 100% NH4 +-N reduction in the aerobic activated sludge sequencing batch reactor pretreatment process. The steady and higher removal efficiency of the bioreactor over the entire study period is promising for further exploration to enhance removal of refractory contaminants from the MLL.

Effect of Colloidal Metal Nanoparticles on Biomass, Polysaccharides, Flavonoids, and Melanin Accumulation in Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Ach.:Pers.) Pilát

The article explores effect of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) of Ag, Fe, and Mg metals on the growth activity of the medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Ach.:Pers.) Pilát and the synthesis of biologically active compounds (polysaccharides, flavonoids, and melanins). It was found that all the studied NPs stimulated growth activity. AgNPs inhibited polysaccharide and flavonoid synthesis, and stimulated melanin synthesis by 140%. Using MgNPs was effective to increase the level of accumulation of endopolysaccharides, flavonoids, and melanin pigments. FeNPs significantly increased the yield of endopolysaccharides. This effect should be used for biosynthesis stimulation for polysaccharides, flavonoids, and melanins obtaining from I. obliquus cultivated in vitro. The results demonstrate the potential of the use of metal colloidal solutions NPs for the development of environmentally friendly and effective biotechnology to produce biologically active compounds by medicinal macromycete I. obliquus.

Insights into Triterpene Acids in Fermented Mycelia of Edible Fungus Poria cocos by a Comparative Study

As an edible sclerotia-forming fungus, Poria cocos is widely used as a food supplement and as a tonic in China. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to identify triterpene acids in fermented mycelia of P. cocos, as well as the epidermis and inner part of natural sclerotia. A total of 19 triterpene acids were identified in fermented mycelia, whereas 31 were identified in the epidermis and 24 in the inner part. Nine triterpene acids were quantitatively determined, and the concentrations of two valuable triterpenes, dehydropachymic acid and pachymic acid, reached 1.07 mg/g and 0.61 mg/g in the fermented mycelia part, respectively, and were both significantly higher than the concentration in the two natural parts. The fermented mycelia could be a good choice for producing some target triterpene compounds and functional foods through fermentation thanks to the high concentration of some triterpene acids.

Characterization of high yield exopolysaccharide produced by Phyllobacterium sp. 921F exhibiting moisture preserving properties

A new strain bacteria was isolated and named as Phyllobacterium sp. 921F, due to its high production capacity of exopolysaccharide (EPS). Characterization of physico-chemical properties of the EPS and optimization for high production were conducted to aim at industrial applications. The optimum pH and temperature were 7.0 and 30°C, respectively. The following scale-up fermentation was carried out in 30L bioreactor and amounts of EPS (21.9g/L) were produced. The EPS with a molecular mass of 1082kDa was composed of glucose, galactose, and pyruvate. The EPS solution behaved as Newtonian at low concentrations (≤0.3%) and as shear thinning at higher concentration (e.g, 1%). The moisture retention ability of the EPS was found to be superior to hyaluronic acid. Results suggest that Phyllobacterium sp. 921F is a good candidate for large-scale production of the EPS which might be utilized in food and cosmetics industries.

A novel Ganoderma lucidum G0119 fermentation strategy for enhanced triterpenes production by statistical process optimization and addition of oleic acid

A novel enhanced triterpenes fermentation production process by Ganoderma lucidum G0119 with the addition of oleic acid in the medium has been developed and optimized. All of the six exogenous additives tested were found to exhibit stimulatory effect on mycelial growth and triterpenes biosynthesis by G. lucidum. The results show that oleic acid addition had significant role in promoting triterpenes production. The optimal concentration and time of oleic acid addition were determined to be 30 mL/L and 0 h, respectively. Furthermore, three significant factors influencing triterpenes production were identified as glucose, magnesium sulfate and temperature using the Plackett-Burman design. The optimized conditions by central composite design were 27.83 g/L glucose, 1.32 g/L magnesium sulfate, 26.2°C temperature. The triterpenes fermentation yield with the optimized medium based on actual confirmatory experimental data in 6 L fermentor was 1.076 g/L versus the statistical model predicted value of 1.080 g/L. Our innovatively developed triterpenes fermentation production technology and process has been proven to produce high triterpenes productivity and yield conceivably useful for industrial production.

Improved Production and Antitumor Properties of Triterpene Acids from Submerged Culture of Ganoderma lingzhi

Triterpene acids (TAs) are the major bioactive constituents in the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lingzhi. However, fermentative production of TAs has not been optimized for commercial use, and whether the TAs isolated from G. lingzhi submerged culture mycelia possess antitumor activity needs to be further proven. In this study, enhanced TA yield and productivity were attained with G. lingzhi using response surface methodology. The interactions of three variables were studied using a Box-Benhnken design, namely initial pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and fermentation temperature. The optimum conditions were an initial pH of 5.9, 20.0% DO and 28.6 °C. These conditions resulted in a TA yield of 308.1 mg/L in a 5-L stirred bioreactor. Furthermore, the optimized conditions were then successfully scaled up to a production scale of 200 L, and maximum TA production and productivity of 295.3 mg/L and 49.2 mg/L/day were achieved, which represented 80.9% and 111.5% increases, respectively, compared with the non-optimized conditions. Additionally, the triterpene acid extract (TAE) from G. lingzhi mycelia was found to be cytotoxic to the SMMC-7721 and SW620 cell lines in vitro, and the TAE exhibited dose-dependent antitumor activity against the solid tumor sarcoma 180 in vivo. Chemical analysis revealed that the key active triterpene compounds, ganoderic acid T and ganoderic acid Me, predominated in the extract.

Development of Ling-zhi industry in China - emanated from the artificial cultivation in the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS)

Ling-zhi is a medicinal herb that generally refers to a fungus in the genus Ganoderma. It has been used as a medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years. Mycologists at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) first artificially cultivated the Ling-zhi fruiting body in the late 1960s (X.J. Liu's team). In IMCAS, different research teams have extensively studied Ling-zhi in the aspects of national resource surveys, systematic taxonomy, chemical analysis, and processing for medicinal and health applications. The research results from IMCAS have provided essential support and prompted the development of the Ling-zhi industry in China to some extent. This review aims to summarize the history of research on Ling-zhi in IMCAS and its role in the development of the Ling-zhi economy.

Sucrose fed-batch strategy enhanced biomass, polysaccharide, and ganoderic acids production in fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum 5.26

Ganoderma, as a Chinese traditional medicine, has multiple bioactivities. However, industrial production was limited due to low yield during Ganoderma fermentation. In this work, sucrose was found to greatly enhance intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) content and specific extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production rate. The mechanism was studied by analyzing the activities of enzymes related to polysaccharide biosynthesis. The results revealed that sucrose regulated the activities of phosphoglucomutase and phosphoglucose isomerase. When glucose and sucrose mixture was used as carbon source, biomass, polysaccharide and ganoderic acids (GAs) production was greatly enhanced. A sucrose fed-batch strategy was developed in 10-L bioreactor, and was scaled up to 300-L bioreactor. The biomass, EPS and IPS production was 25.5, 2.9 and 4.8 g/L, respectively, which was the highest biomass and IPS production in pilot scale. This study provides information for further understanding the regulation mechanism of Ganoderma polysaccharide biosynthesis. It demonstrates that sucrose fed-batch is a useful strategy for enhancing Ganoderma biomass, polysaccharide and GAs production.

Hydrodynamics, Fungal Physiology, and Morphology

Filamentous cultures, such as fungi and actinomycetes, contribute substantially to the pharmaceutical industry and to enzyme production, with an annual market of about 6 billion dollars. In mechanically stirred reactors, most frequently used in fermentation industry, microbial growth and metabolite productivity depend on complex interactions between hydrodynamics, oxygen transfer, and mycelial morphology. The dissipation of energy through mechanically stirring devices, either flasks or tanks, impacts both microbial growth through shearing forces on the cells and the transfer of mass and energy, improving the contact between phases (i.e., air bubbles and microorganisms) but also causing damage to the cells at high energy dissipation rates. Mechanical-induced signaling in the cells triggers the molecular responses to shear stress; however, the complete mechanism is not known. Volumetric power input and, more importantly, the energy dissipation/circulation function are the main parameters determining mycelial size, a phenomenon that can be explained by the interaction of mycelial aggregates and Kolmogorov eddies. The use of microparticles in fungal cultures is also a strategy to increase process productivity and reproducibility by controlling fungal morphology. In order to rigorously study the effects of hydrodynamics on the physiology of fungal microorganisms, it is necessary to rule out the possible associated effects of dissolved oxygen, something which has been reported scarcely. At the other hand, the processes of phase dispersion (including the suspended solid that is the filamentous biomass) are crucial in order to get an integral knowledge about biological and physicochemical interactions within the bioreactor. Digital image analysis is a powerful tool for getting relevant information in order to establish the mechanisms of mass transfer as well as to evaluate the viability of the mycelia. This review focuses on (a) the main characteristics of the two most common morphologies exhibited by filamentous microorganisms; (b) how hydrodynamic conditions affect morphology and physiology in filamentous cultures; and (c) techniques using digital image analysis to characterize the viability of filamentous microorganisms and mass transfer in multiphase dispersions. Representative case studies of fungi (Trichoderma harzianum and Pleurotus ostreatus) exhibiting different typical morphologies (disperse mycelia and pellets) are discussed.

Concentration variation and molecular characteristics of soluble (1,3;1,6)-β-D-glucans in submerged cultivation products of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium

(1,3)-β-D-Glucans with (1,6)-β-D-glucosyl branches are bioactive polysaccharides in fruiting bodies and mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine. Submerged cultivation of mycelium is one of the more efficient means of generating polysaccharides from this fungus. Twelve mycelium samples examined in this study demonstrated the quantitative and qualitative molecular characteristics of soluble (1,3;1,6)-β-D-glucans. It was observed that the concentration of soluble (1,3;1,6)-β-D-glucan varied substantially from 1.3 to 79.9 mg/dL. (1,3;1,6)-β-D-Glucans also preserved their molecular characteristics with degrees of branching (DB) of 0.21-0.36 and molecular masses of 10(5)-10(6) g/mol for those samples with substantial quantities of β-D-glucan. Using the high aggregating tendency of these molecules, (1,3;1,6)-β-D-glucans were successfully purified via fractional precipitation with 35% (v/v) ethanol. (1,3;1,6)-β-D-Glucan was proposed as a putative bioactive marker for immunomodulation because it was the most abundant polysaccharide in G. lucidum mycelium products to stimulate macrophage RAW 264.7 cells to release TNF-α.

Submerged culture process for biomass and exopolysaccharide production by Antarctic yeast: some engineering considerations

Production of biomass and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) from psychrophilic Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL1 in a stirred bioreactor was studied. The aspects of production technical-scale parameters, namely, bioreactor flow field, biomass and EPS production rates, oxygen mass transfer per input power, as well as important product properties, such as rheology and stability of EPS mixtures, were considered. The bioprocess was found to proceed in non-Newtonian flow with consistency coefficient rising typically to 0.03 Pa.s(n) and flow index declining to 0.7. Flow modeling was carried out and showed good homogenization for substrate delivery at agitation rates exceeding 400 rpm. Agitation rates lower than 400 rpm were considered counterproductive due to flow field non-uniformity. The cell density reached 5 g/l and EPS production yield reached 5.5 g/l at production rate 0.057 g EPS/l per hour (0.01 g EPS/g biomass per hour). Oxygen uptake rate and oxygen transfer rate were in the range of 0.5-1.7 mmolO2/l per hour and 2-4.7 mmolO2/l per hour, respectively. The mass transfer coefficient at reaction conditions was found to be in the range [Formula: see text]. The bioprocess biological performance was higher at moderate agitation speed and revealed biomass diminution and cell inactivation by increasing impeller revolutions and shear rate. The product EPS was found to introduce shear-thinning behavior in water solutions with apparent viscosity of up to 30 mPa.s and to stabilize 1-2 % oil-in-water emulsions improving their lipophilic properties. The emulsion dispersion index was found to be comparable with the one of Arlacel 165, the emulsifier used in cosmetic. The long-term performance of the complex cream mixtures of the glucomannan prepared in commercial format was found promising for further application.

The polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum: Are they always inhibitors on human hepatocarcinoma cells?

The antitumor activity of intracellular polysaccharides from submerged fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated focusing on the inhibition on human liver cancer cells. The polysaccharides inhibited human hepatocarcinoma cell HepG2 during earlier phase with lower dosage but obviously became less functional in later phase regardless of the dosage applied. However, apoptosis of the drugged HepG2 cells appeared in later incubation phase with high dosage, and the apoptosis could be enhanced by supplemental dose of the intracellular polysaccharides. Nevertheless, the intracellular polysaccharides inhibited other human hepatocarcinoma cells such as BEL-7402 and Huh-7 but luckily stimulated human normal liver cell L02 only in a positive dose- and time-dependent manner; so did the sulfated extracellular polysaccharides when it inhibited HepG2 and L02 cells. However, the toxicity of sulfated extracellular polysaccharides to L02 cells can be eliminated by the intracellular polysaccharides.

Mushroom polysaccharides and lipids synthesized in liquid agitated and static cultures. Part I: screening various mushroom species

The effect of four synthetic media containing glucose (initial concentration 30 g l(-1)) on mycelial growth, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and cellular lipids production was examined in 11 mushroom species after 12 and 16 days of culture in static- and shake-flasks. Fatty acid analysis of cellular lipids produced was also performed. Agitation had a positive effect on biomass production, glucose consumption and lipid biosynthesis. Media that favoured the production of biomass were not suitable for EPS biosynthesis and vice versa. Biomass values varied from ~1.0 g l(-1) (Lentinula edodes) to ~19 g l(-1) (Pleurotus ostreatus), while the highest EPS quantity achieved ranged between 1.6 and 1.8 g l(-1) (for Ganoderma lucidum and L. edodes, respectively). Quantities of total cellular lipids varied between 2.5 and 18.5 % w/w, in dry mycelial mass for the fungi tested. Lipid in dry weight values were influenced by the medium composition. Cellular lipids presented noticeable quantities of poly-unsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid. Compared to most of the mushrooms tested, lipids of Volvariella volvacea were more saturated. The ability of several mushroom species of our study to produce in notable quantities the above-mentioned added-value compounds renders these fungi worthy for further investigations.