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Open Access Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Research Article 8 min read

Termitomyces Marvel Medicinal Mushroom Having a Unique Life Cycle

Elkhateeb WA* and Daba GM*
* Corresponding author
ISSN: 2574-7797  10.23880/oajpr-16000196  Received: February 29, 2020  Published: March 25, 2020
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Keywords
Medicinal Mushrooms Termitomyces biological activities Termite nests
Abstract

The medicinal uses of the mushroom still need to be worked out for their biological activities. Current review demonstrate that Termitomyces mushrooms have medicinal properties possesses a number of beneficial medicinal properties such as antioxidants, immunomodulators, antitumors, and antimicrobials. These activities have been reported for various extracts and isolated compounds, such as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, cerebrosides, serine protease, ergostanes, saponins, and fatty acid amides from Termitomyces fruiting bodies.

Introduction

Mushrooms need antibacterial and antifungal compounds to survive in their natural environment. Hence, they are rich sources of natural antibiotics [1, 2]. Mushrooms are worldwide appreciated for their taste and flavour and are consumed both in fresh and processed Apart from being delicacy and tasty foods, they have special biochemical compositions, with significant contents of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes, minerals, vitamins and water which attract more attention as functional health promoters [2, 3, 4, 5].

Termitomyces Mushrooms Ecology

Termitomyces a genus of edible mushrooms commonly consumed in Africa and Asia among the mushrooms collected from the wild. Termitomyces mushrooms grow as symbionts in the termite nests, where they produce various enzymes to help termites digest lignocellulosic substrates.

On the termite comb white spherical yeast like colony fungal structures are commonly observed. These structures of Termitomyces have been described by various authors under different names [6]. Heim, [7] proved these structures exclusively as sporodochia which are found on the combs of Macro terminae and represent the anamorph of the genus Termitomyces. The fruiting bodies of Termitomyces are rich in nutritional and medicinal constituents. Many species of Termitomyces are used by different ethnic groups with ethnomedicinal knowledge [8]. Termitomyces R. Heim, a fungal genus belonging to the family Lyophyllaceae [9, 10].

Termitomyces mushrooms grow exclusively inside nests of macrotermitine termites, Figures 1 & 2. These mushrooms are regularly collected both for home consumption and for sale in local markets or along roadsides [11, 12]. The fungi Termitomyces are known to have a unique life cycle. These fungi are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas from Africa to Southeast Asia [13], and are found only in nests of Macrotermitinae termites in the wild. They live in a medium called the fungus comb, located in a special chamber, fungus garden, inside the nest. The termites collect plant materials from outside the nest to maintain the fungus combs, which they later eat [14, 15]. Various species of Termitomyces are widely dispersed in Africa and Southeast Asia [16, 17]. Termitomyces mushrooms production of their fruiting bodies under artificial cultivation has not been successful yet [18].

Termitomyces Mushrooms Benefits and uses

Termitomyces mushrooms become an important source of nutrients as well as micronutrients including vitamins and minerals [19, 20]. Bioactive components that Termitomyces mushrooms contain have potential uses as antioxidants, immunomodulators, antitumors, and antimicrobials. Termitomyces also has a potential for treating neurodegenerative disorders. [8]. Several species of Termitomyces are commonly used ethnomedicinally for health promotion and treatment of illnesses. Termitomyces albuminosus is used in China for improving brain and stomach functions and curing hemorrhoids. In India, T. heimii and T. microcarpus are used in treatment for fever, cold, and fungal infections [21]; T. heimii is as blood tonics during wound healing and blood coagulation [22]; and T. eurrhizus is for curing of rheumatic disorder and diarrhea, and for lowering high blood pressure [23]. In Nigeria, gonorrhea is treated with a preparation containing T. microcarpus [24]. In Cameroon, T. titanicusis used for treatment of stomach complications [25].

Termitomyces mushrooms (methanolic, ethanolic, aqueous) extracts were selected for in-vitro studies against selected pathogenic microorganism to investigate the efficacy of their different. The antifungal activity of various solvent extracts of Termitomyces was tested against five species of fungus Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Mucor racemous. The different extracts showed wide spectrum of a fungal activity [26].

Li, et al., [27] results that Termitomyces albuminosus possess the pharmaceutical potential for Alzheimer’s disease, and it was an effective way to dig new pharmaceutical agent of T. albuminosus with the microbial fermentation technique. Termitomyces mushrooms extracts have revealed potent antioxidant activities and they have also shown promising antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus [28].

Termitomyces Mushrooms Bioactive Compounds

Termitomyces mushrooms rich in proteins (27– 36%) and ascorbic acid (10–18 mg/g) [8]. Some of the ethnomedicinal uses of Termitomyces mushrooms can be related to certain bioactive compounds that these mushrooms contain. The bioactive compounds from Termitomyces species that have been isolated including phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, cerebrosides, serine protease, ergostanes, saponins, and fatty acid amides [8]. Many compounds with medicinal capabilities have been obtained from Termitomyces dried fruiting bodies, such as novel cerebrosides termitomycesphins A–H with significant neuritogenic activity and cerebroside A with the potent neuroprotection activity. Termitomyces has also displayed antioxidant capacity and high content phenolic ingredients [29, 30, 31, 32].

Figure 1: Termitomyces mushrooms (Photographs taken by Glen van Niekerk, Locality: South Africa, Pretoria, Gauteng, Sinoville, hosted by http://mycoportal.org).
Click to enlarge
Figure 1: Termitomyces mushrooms (Photographs taken by Glen van Niekerk, Locality: South Africa, Pretoria, Gauteng, Sinoville, hosted by http://mycoportal.org).
Figure 2: Termitomyces mushrooms showing attachment to termite nest in soil cross-section (Photographs taken by Masana Izawa, Locality: Only available to clients in Canada, Mexico, and United States, hosted by https:// www.mindenpictures.com).
Click to enlarge
Figure 2: Termitomyces mushrooms showing attachment to termite nest in soil cross-section (Photographs taken by Masana Izawa, Locality: Only available to clients in Canada, Mexico, and United States, hosted by https:// www.mindenpictures.com).

Conclusion

As a conclusion Termitomyces mushrooms is an edible mushrooms, grow as symbionts in the termite nests. Like several well-known edible mushrooms such as button mushroom (Agaricus blazeiis), wood ear mushroom (Auricularia auricular-judae), and Ganoderma lucidum (polypore mushroom), Termitomyces mushrooms are also effective in antioxidation, anti-inflammation and antitumor [33, 34, 35]. Termitomyces mushrooms may be developed into health care products as dietary supplements. Polysaccharides prepared from Termitomyces may be beneficial for the control of hyperlipidemia. The cultivation of Termitomyces for the fruiting body production is unavailable at present. The chemical analysis of the various compounds obtained from Termitomyces mushrooms fruiting bodies showed that it is a rich source of bioactive compounds with various potential uses as antioxidants, immunomodulators, antitumors, and antimicrobials. Much effort is still needed in discovering further bioactive materials from Termitomyces mushrooms and establishing a system to test their potential uses.

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@article{elkhateeb2020,
  title   = {Termitomyces Marvel Medicinal Mushroom Having a Unique Life
Cycle},
  author  = {Elkhateeb WA* and Daba GM},
  journal = {Open Access Journal of Pharmaceutical Research},
  year    = {2020},
  volume  = {4},
  number  = {1},
  doi     = {10.23880/oajpr-16000196}
}
Elkhateeb WA* and Daba GM (2020). Termitomyces Marvel Medicinal Mushroom Having a Unique Life
Cycle. Open Access Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.23880/oajpr-16000196
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Termitomyces Marvel Medicinal Mushroom Having a Unique Life
Cycle
AU  - Elkhateeb WA* and Daba GM
JO  - Open Access Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
PY  - 2020
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
DO  - 10.23880/oajpr-16000196
ER  -