Efficacy of supplementation of selected medicinal mushrooms with inorganic selenium salts.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of supplementation with inorganic forms of selenium (Na2SeO4and Na2SeO3) in concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.5 mM of three medicinal mushroom species:Agrocybe aegerita,Hericium erinaceusandGanoderma lucidum. Tested mushroom species grew in Se additions of 0–0.6 mM (A. aegeritaandH. erinaceus), while growth ofG. lucidumbodies was observed for 0–0.8 mM. For the latter mushroom species, the total Se content was the highest. Content of Seorgwas diverse; for control bodies it was the highest forG. lucidum(only organic forms were present), lower forA. aegerita(84% organic forms) and the lowest forH. erinaceus(56% organic forms). Accumulation of Se(IV) was generally significantly higher than Se(VI) for all tested mushroom species. There was no significant decrease ofA. aegeritaorG. lucidumbiomass with the exception ofG. lucidumbodies growing under 0.8 mM of Se species addition (15.51 ± 6.53 g). Biomass ofH. erinaceusbodies was the highest under 0.2 (197.04 ± 8.73 g), control (191.80 ± 6.06 g) and 0.1 mM (185.04 ± 8.73 g) of both inorganic salts. The addition to the medium of Se salts brought about macroscopic changes in the fruiting bodies of the examined mushrooms. Concentrations exceeding 0.4 mM caused diminution of carpophores or even their total absence. In addition, colour changes of fruiting bodies were also recorded. At Se concentrations of 0.4 and 0.6 mM,A. aegeritafruiting bodies were distinctly lighter and those ofH. erinaceuschanged colour from purely white to white-pink. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]