Wood ear mushroom (Auricularia heimuer) is one of the most popular mushrooms in Korea. Bacteria in the air can act as contaminants of mushroom media, mushroom pathogens, and sources of food poisoning in the indoor environment of mushroom cultivation houses. Therefore, cultivation houses require proper management to maintain mushroom production, quality and hygiene. This study was conducted to evaluate the properties of airborne bacterial species isolated from wood ear mushroom cultivation. Nine species of indoor-airborne bacteria were tested against wood ear mushroom cultivars using confrontation assay on PDA. Among 9 species, Bacillus subtilis DUCC18238 showed the strongest inhibition effect on the mycelial growth of nine wood ear mushroom cultivars and the inhibition rate for 7 of them was more than 30%. In addition, B. subtilis DUCC18238 inhibited the mycelial growth of 11 out of 18 wild mushroom species, 7 out of 8 phytopathogenic fungi, and 5 out of 5 Trichoderma species, respectively. The results of this study show that the management of airborne bacteria in the indoor environment of wood ear mushroom cultivation houses is necessary.

Airborne bacteria are an important environmental factor that affects the hygiene of mushroom cultivation houses, as they can act as contaminants or pathogens in mushroom cultivation. To determine the distribution of airborne bacteria in the air of wood ear mushroom cultivation houses, air sampling and temperature and humidity measurements were conducted at three wood ear mushroom farms located in Iksan and Wando in 2022. Sampled air was analyzed to measure bacterial concentration levels and identify bacterial species. There was no significant difference in temperature and humidity changes detected between the three mushroom growing houses. Additionally, the concentration of bacteria in the air did not exceed 800 CFU/m², which is the maximum amount of airborne bacteria allowed by the Ministry of Environment’s indoor air quality maintenance standards. Eleven species of bacteria belonging to 11 genera were isolated and identified from air samples. These include five species of Micrococcales, four species of Bacilli, one species of Actinomycetia, and one species of Mycobacteriales. Of the 11 species identified, five are known to affect human health. However, no mushroom pathogens or species causing food poisoning were found.

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Auricularia auricula-judae ethanol extract (AEE) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mice. The highest levels of total polyphenols and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in AEE. Also, NO production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). AEE was suspended in distilled water and administration per oral at different doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight every day with 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. The sample AEE 100 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased body weight, colon length and decreased disease activity index (DAI) score. Histological features showed that 100 and 300 mg/kg of AEE suppressed edema, mucosal damage and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. The serum levels of TNF- and IL-6 were measured in acute colitis mice using ELISA kits. Levels of TNF- and IL-6 in serum were significantly decreased by topical application of AEE. Therefore, AEE increases antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and it is thought that it can effectively help prevent colitis.

In order to investigate the optimal UVB (ultraviolet B) treatment conditions for vitamin D2 enhancement of freeze-dried ear mushroom, sample size (below 300 μm~whole), UV treatment temperature (30~60℃), treatment density (6.25~50.0 mg/cm2) and the samples mixing frequency (1~32 times) were treated differently. After that, chromaticity, vitamin D2 and ergosterol (vitamin D2 precursor) contents were investigated. As a result of the investigating, effective UVB treatment conditions for vitamin D2 enhancement are as follows. The sample sizes were 2~4 mm and finely crushed pieces. The treatment temperatures were 50℃ and 60℃. The treatment density was 12.5 to 25.0 mg/cm2, and the number of sample mixing was 8 times or more. As the amount of vitamin D2 increased by UVB treatment, the ergosterol content generally tended to decrease. However, under some UVB treatment conditions, the vitamin D2 content was not high despite the decrease of ergosterol content. Under the conditions set in this experiment, it was possible to obtain ear mushrooms with enhanced vitamin D2 up to 26,968.7 μg/100 g. Therefore, it is thought that the ear mushroom is highly likely to be used as a vitamin D source and nutritionally fortified food ingredient.

The purpose of this study was to develop a functional beverage by using Caragana sinica extract and Tremella fuciformis Berk, which have high physiological effects such as anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-lipidemic and anti-inflammatory. To this end, we used various mixing ratios of Caragana sinica extract, Tremella fuciformis Berk, and isomalto oligosaccharide, and measured the physicochemical properties of those beverages. The analyses showed the following: moisture content of those beverages using Caragana sinica extract and Tremella fuciformis Berk was 50.51~67.64%, pH was 5.19~5.38, and crude fat content was 0.28~0.52%, crude protein content was 1.26~1.80%, ash content was 0.47~0.80 and sugar content was 8.55~26.98°Brix. The lightness (L) of the beverages was 37.70~58.11, the redness (a) was 6.88~16.94, the yellowness (b) was 13.72~23.68, the total polyphenol content was 2.07~3.46 mg/g, and the total flavonoid content was 0.37~0.42 mg/g. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the nutritional components and total polyphenols of functional beverage using Caragana Sinica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Berk and isomalto oligosaccharide were high at a mixing ratio of 1:1.3:25%. These results will increase the use of Caragana Sinica Extract and Tremella Fuciformis Berk, as functional materials in the future, and provide a framework for the manufacturing of diluted beverages comprising mineral water and carbonated water.

2021년 4월부터 8월에 제주시의 비닐하우스에서 재배되는 목이버섯에서 거저리 일종이 발견되었으며, 그를 동정한 결과 제주진주거저리 (Platydema takeii Nakane, 1956)로 확인되었다. 상업적으로 재배되는 버섯에 있어서 거저리 해충으로 인한 우리나라의 첫 번째 피해 사례이다. 여 기서는 이 해충의 피해 증상과 성충 및 유충의 진단형질을 제공하고자 한다.

This study observed the anti-inflammatory effect of the polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of Tremella fuciformis in mice with colitis induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The experimental groups were normal, DSS, DSS-TFL50, DSS-TFH100, and suflasalazine. Body weights, colon lengths, and organ weights were measured, and the plasma level of pro-inflammatory cytokine and mRNA and protein expression in colon tissue were analyzed. Body weight loss, a symptom of DSS-induced colitis, was suppressed by DSS-TF and the speed of weight recovery proceeded rapidly. In addition, DSS-TF showed a significant inhibitory effect on the decrease of colon length typically caused by colon damage. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β cytokine levels in plasma were reduced in DSS-TF and positive control groups. TNF-α, COX-2 and IL-1β mRNA expression in colon tissue were inhibited in DSS-TF and positive control, and it was significantly different from that of the DSS group. The protein expression of inflammation-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2) in the colon tissue was significantly increased by DSS compared to that of the normal group, but by DSS-TFL50, DSS-TFH100 and sulfasalarin decreased. In conclusion, the polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of Tremella fuciformis showed the anti-inflammatory effect on DSS-induced colitis in mice.

This study was conducted to effectively supplement vitamin D and increase the consumption of ear mushroom based on the investigation of the quality characteristics of cookies containing ear mushroom supplemented with vitamin D. Cookies were made of 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% ear mushroom powder treated by ultraviolet B. Increased addition of ear mushroom powder led to a decrease in the bulk density of the dough as well as a spread factor, color value, and hardness of the cookies. There was no significant difference in the loss rate, but the water content of the dough and cookies was increased. The total polyphenol content of cookies added with 1~5% ear mushroom powder was higher than that of the 0%. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of cookies added with 5% ear mushroom powder (23.8%) was 2 times higher than that of the 0% (10.9%). The vitamin D2 content of cookies added with 5% ear mushroom powder (835.5 μg/100 g D.W.) was 44 times higher than that of the 0% (19.0 μg/100 g D.W.). Consequently, ear mushroom powder is considered to be suitable for the production of functional cookies because of high values of antioxidant activity and vitamin D2 content.

본 연구에서 흰목이버섯의 추출조건별 추출수율과 기능성 성분의 함량을 비교하여 최적 추출조건을 분석하였으며, 모든 분석에서 R²이 0.9331~0.9462로 유의성을 보이는 것을 확인하였다. 각 독립변수에 따른 추출수율과 ergothioneine, β-glucan 성분을 분석한 결과 추출수율은 추출온도와 추출시료농도에 반비례했으며, 추출시간에는 큰 영향이 없었다. Ergothioneine 성분은 온도가 증가할수록 증가하며, 추출시간은 4.33 h가 가장 높았고 시료량에 큰 영향이 없었다. β-glucan 성분은 온도가 증가할수록 감소했으며, 추출시간에 큰 영향이 없었고 시료량이 21.2 mg/mL에서 가장 높았다. 모든 종속변수의 최대 독립변수는 온도 60 o C, 추출시간 4.33 h, 추출시료농도 16.6 mg/mL에서 추출수율 24.9%, ergothioneine 성분함량 66.8 ug/g, β-glucan 성분함량 34.9 g/100 g으로 나타났다.

To examine the possibility of ear mushroom (EM) as a source of natural vitamin D, the UVB (ultraviolet B) was treated according to sample drying status, drying methods before UVB treatment and harvest time. And then, vitamin D2 and ergosterol contents were investigated. According to the sample drying status, the vitamin D2 contents of fresh and freeze-dried EM (whole) increased to 4,634.4~4,780.9 μg/100 g D.W. (dry weight) under UVB dose 52.5~70.0 kJ/m2 and above 18,693.1 μg/100 g D.W. under above 105 kJ/m2, respectively. By drying methods before UVB treatment, vitamin D2 contents of EM powder (below 500 μm) that dried in the vinyl house and freeze-dryer increased to 4,886.2~5,132.9 μg/100 g D.W. under above 105 kJ/m2 and 17,103.7 μg/100 g D.W. under 70 kJ/m2, respectively. Ergosterol content decreased with increasing UVB dose in all experiments. According to the harvest time, vitamin D2 content under UVB dose 210 kJ/m2 showed marked difference and in order of June, July, August, October and April. As for the results, the optimum harvest time, drying method before UVB treatment, sample size, UVB dose for the EM contained high vitamin D2 content were June, freeze-drying, whole, and 105 kJ/m2, respectively.