International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia) 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 macrofungi have demonstrated significant pharmacological Abstract—In an effort to record the macrofungi species of activity including anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities. Northern Samar, a questionnaire survey, visits and interviews were This research aims to survey and document the utilization of conducted in selected municipalities of Northern Samar. Macrofungi macrofungi for food and/or medicine. This information would utilized for food and medicine were documented. In order to help us better understand the diversity and potential of promote the use of macrofungi as sources of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed. Results showed Northern Samar’s forest fungi leading to further scientific that at least 18 macrofungi species were identified but only 4 species investigation and thus, more effective utilization and were traditionally used for food. The on-going research will lead to a conservation of this valuable but often neglected resource. new generation of foods and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal value. The results gathered in this study would help II. METHODOLOGY the communities better understand the diversity and potential of macrofungi leading to further scientific investigation and thus, more Municipalities in Northern Samar to be surveyed were effective conservation and utilization. identified based on distribution and accessibility. All visits were made together with Barangay officials. The interview Keywords—Nutrients, macrofungi utilization, Northern Samar, was conducted through formatted interviews of individuals nutraceuticals. using a specially prepared questionnaire. During the survey, wherever possible or available, samples of macrofungi utilized I. INTRODUCTION by the local communities were photographed and collected and HE rural communities of Northern Samar are known to any additional information or data not covered by the T utilize certain local wild mushrooms for food and questionnaire were recorded. Macrofungi specimens, where medicine, but this indigenous knowledge is poorly documented available, were taken back to the College of Science, UEP for and not systematically recorded. Like most folk medicine, the further taxonomic study. claim of such efficacious medicinal fungi in treating certain ailments needs to be scientifically verified before they can be III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION accepted or adopted. However, before investigation of such There were eighteen (18) macrofungi species which were claims, it is important to first know and correctly identify the present and distributed in selected municipalities of Northern species used. Samar. The species composition of macrofungi in Northern A nutraceutical can be defined as a substance that may be Samar is presented in Table 1. A total of 18 species were considered a food or part of a food and provides medical or identified and they belonged to two (2) phyla: Basidiomycota health benefits, like the prevention and treatment of disease. and Ascomycota; three (3) classes: Heterobasidiomycetes, Different macrofungi were studied by the scientific community Agaricomycetes, and Basidiomycetes; five (5) orders: in their search for new therapeutic alternatives, and the results Auriculariales, Agaricales, Cantharellales, Polyporales, and proved their bioactive properties. Macrofungi are rich sources Hyenochaetaetales; and thirteen (13) families: Auriculariaceae, of nutraceuticals and are becoming more important in our diet Cantharellaceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, due to their nutritional value. However, for macrofungi, only Tricholomataceae, Bolbitiaceae, Marasmiaceae, few isolated compounds are currently in study. Nevertheless, Schizophyllaceae, Inocybaceae, Ganodermataceae, Sparassidaceae, Polyporaceae, and Agaricaceae. 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 http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IICBE.C614006 25 International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia) TABLE I the financial support of this work. MACROFUNGI SPECIES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE Species Common / Local name Economic REFERENCES uses [1] Barros, et al., Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008. Auricularia http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.04.030 auricula-judae Unknown [2] May, et al., Phytochemistry, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.12.002 Auricularia polytricha Taingang-daga Edible; used for food [3] Alonso, et al., Microchemical, 2012. Cantharellus cibarius Banay Edible; used for [4] Lee and Chang, Forest Ecology and Management, 2012. [5] Mari, Anne, Basic and Applied Ecology, 2009. food [6] Minter, et al., British Mycological Society, 2012. Fomitopsis pinicola Unknown [7] Dunn, et al., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2012 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 Fig. 1 Fomitopsis pinicola 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 Fig. 2 Mycena leptocephala 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 Fig. 3 Pleurocybella porrigens 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 http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IICBE.C614006 26 International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia) Fig. 8 Schizophyllum commune (Kurakdot) Fig. 4 Inonotus radiates Fig. 5. Auricularia auricula judae Fig. 9 Pycnoporus cinnabarinus Fig. 6. Pleurocybella porrigens Fig. 10 Panaeolus papilionaceus Fig. 7 Auricularia polytricha (Taingang daga) Fig. 11 Lycoperdon mammiforme pers http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IICBE.C614006 27 International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia) Fig. 12 Trametes hirsute Fig. 16 Sparassis radicata Fig. 13 Panaeolus papilionaceus Fig. 14 Trametes versicolor. Fig. 15 Panaeolus campanulatus http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IICBE.C614006 28.