Abstract—In an effort to record the macrofungi species of
Northern Samar, a questionnaire survey, visits and interviews were conducted in selected municipalities of Northern Samar. Macrofungi utilized for food and medicine were documented. In order to promote the use of macrofungi as sources of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed. Results showed that at least 18 macrofungi species were identified but only 4 species were traditionally used for food. The on-going research will lead to a new generation of foods and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal value. The results gathered in this study would help the communities better understand the diversity and potential of macrofungi leading to further scientific investigation and thus, more effective conservation and utilization.
Keywords—Nutrients, macrofungi utilization, Northern Samar, nutraceuticals.
I. INTRODUCTION HE rural communities of Northern Samar are known to utilize certain local wild mushrooms for food and
medicine, but this indigenous knowledge is poorly documented and not systematically recorded. Like most folk medicine, the claim of such efficacious medicinal fungi in treating certain ailments needs to be scientifically verified before they can be accepted or adopted. However, before investigation of such claims, it is important to first know and correctly identify the species used.
A nutraceutical can be defined as a substance that may be considered a food or part of a food and provides medical or health benefits, like the prevention and treatment of disease. Different macrofungi were studied by the scientific community in their search for new therapeutic alternatives, and the results proved their bioactive properties. Macrofungi are rich sources of nutraceuticals and are becoming more important in our diet due to their nutritional value. However, for macrofungi, only few isolated compounds are currently in study. Nevertheless,
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines
2Department of Environmental Studies, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines,
3Department of Physical Sciences, College of Science, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines
4Research Office, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines
macrofungi have demonstrated significant pharmacological activity including anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities. This research aims to survey and document the utilization of macrofungi for food and/or medicine. This information would help us better understand the diversity and potential of Northern Samar’s forest fungi leading to further scientific investigation and thus, more effective utilization and conservation of this valuable but often neglected resource.
II. METHODOLOGY Municipalities in Northern Samar to be surveyed were
identified based on distribution and accessibility. All visits were made together with Barangay officials. The interview was conducted through formatted interviews of individuals using a specially prepared questionnaire. During the survey, wherever possible or available, samples of macrofungi utilized by the local communities were photographed and collected and any additional information or data not covered by the questionnaire were recorded. Macrofungi specimens, where available, were taken back to the College of Science, UEP for further taxonomic study.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION There were eighteen (18) macrofungi species which were
present and distributed in selected municipalities of Northern Samar. The species composition of macrofungi in Northern Samar is presented in Table 1. A total of 18 species were identified and they belonged to two (2) phyla: Basidiomycota and Ascomycota; three (3) classes: Heterobasidiomycetes, Agaricomycetes, and Basidiomycetes; five (5) orders: Auriculariales, Agaricales, Cantharellales, Polyporales, and Hyenochaetaetales; and thirteen (13) families: Auriculariaceae, Cantharellaceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Tricholomataceae, Bolbitiaceae, Marasmiaceae, Schizophyllaceae, Inocybaceae, Ganodermataceae, Sparassidaceae, Polyporaceae, and Agaricaceae.
Inventory and Utilization of Macrofungi Species for Food and Medicine
Abel Alejandro U. Flores, Jr1,4, Ma. Lourdes C. Alvarez3,4, Franklin E. Cortez2,4, Blenah O. Perez1,4, Felisa L. Sanico3,4, Ma. Judy M. Somoray3,4, Manuela Cecille G. Vicencio1,4,
and *Karina Milagros R. Cui3,4
T
International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)
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TABLE I MACROFUNGI SPECIES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Species Common / Local name Economic
uses
Auricularia
auricula-judae Unknown
Auricularia polytricha Taingang-daga Edible; used for food
Cantharellus cibarius Banay Edible; used for
food
Fomitopsis pinicola Unknown
Ganoderma adspersum Unknown
Ganoderma lucidum Unknown
Inocybe rimosa Ligbos Edible; used for
food
Inonotus radiatus Unknown
Lycoperdon mammiforme Unknown
Mycela leptocephala Unknown
Panaeolus campanulatus Unknown
Panaeolus papilionaceus Unknown
Pleurocybella porrigens Unknown
Pycnoporus cinnabarinus Unknown
Schizophyllum commune Kurakdot Edible; used for
food
Sparassis radicata Unknown
Trametes hirsute Unknown
Trametes versicolor Unknown
Based On The Interview Conducted, There Were Four (4) Species That Were Locally Considered Or Known As Edible By The Local Residents, Namely: Schizophyllum Commune Locally Known As Kurakdot, Cantharellus Cibarius Locally Known As Banay, Auricularia Polytricha Locally Known As Taingang Daga, And Inocybe Rimosa Locally Known As Ligbos. Knowledge About The Utilization Of The Various Species Of Fungi Varied Greatly Between Municipalities. Fungi Were Collected For The Communities’ Own Consumption And Not For Commercial Purposes. It Appeared In The Survey That Trade In Edible Fungi Is Generally Not Important For The Different Municipalities And Is Not An Important Source Of Income In Generalhelpful Hints
IV. CONCLUSION This work presents knowledge about the utilization of the
various species of fungi, which varied greatly between municipalities. Fungi were collected for the communities’ own consumption and not for commercial purposes. It appeared that trade in edible and medicinal fungi are generally not important for the municipalities in Northern Samar.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors are grateful to the University of Eastern
Philippines, Office of Research and Development Services for
the financial support of this work.
REFERENCES [1] Barros, et al., Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.04.030 [2] May, et al., Phytochemistry, 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.12.002 [3] Alonso, et al., Microchemical, 2012. [4] Lee and Chang, Forest Ecology and Management, 2012. [5] Mari, Anne, Basic and Applied Ecology, 2009. [6] Minter, et al., British Mycological Society, 2012. [7] Dunn, et al., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2012
Fig. 1 Fomitopsis pinicola
Fig. 2 Mycena leptocephala
Fig. 3 Pleurocybella porrigens
International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)
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Fig. 4 Inonotus radiates
Fig. 5. Auricularia auricula judae
Fig. 6. Pleurocybella porrigens
Fig. 7 Auricularia polytricha (Taingang daga)
Fig. 8 Schizophyllum commune (Kurakdot)
Fig. 9 Pycnoporus cinnabarinus
Fig. 10 Panaeolus papilionaceus
Fig. 11 Lycoperdon mammiforme pers
International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)
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Fig. 12 Trametes hirsute
Fig. 13 Panaeolus papilionaceus
Fig. 14 Trametes versicolor.
Fig. 15 Panaeolus campanulatus
Fig. 16 Sparassis radicata
International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)
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