Formulation of Antrodia camphorata Culture Medium Incorporated with Pseudostellaria heterophylla By-product

  Objective   To utilize a Pseudostellaria heterophylla by-product for increasing Antrodia camphorata yield and bio-effectiveness, formulation of a culture medium was optimized.

  Methods   Powder of P. heterophylla fine roots was included in formulating a medium to maximize the mycelial growth of A. camphorata by a Plackett-Burman orthogonal experimental design.

  Results   In addition to 6 g·L⁻¹ of P. heterophylla powder, the medium was optimized to contain the ingredients critical to the mushroom growth, which included glucose 10 g·L⁻¹, yeast extract 4 g·L⁻¹, peptone 6 g·L⁻¹, and KH₂PO₄ 1.5 g·L⁻¹. The A. camphorata culture on the formulated medium produced 4.73 g·L⁻¹ biomass, which yielded 2.75% more intracellular triterpenoids than control and 24.85% more than PDB medium, and 161.11% more exopolysaccharides than control and 113.64% more than PDB medium. The fermentation broth also contained a high asexual spore at a density of 1.8×10⁷ spores·mL⁻¹.

  Conclusion  P. heterophylla root powder could plausibly be added to the medium for A. camphorate culture as it promoted the mycelial growth, bioactive constituents yield, and asexual spore production of the mushroom.