title: Chemical characterization and biological activity of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a medicinal "mushroom".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Russian traditional medicine, an extract from the mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pil´at is used as an anti-tumor medicine and diuretic. It has been reported that Inonotus obliquus has therapeutic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory and hepatoprotective effects. This study was designed to investigate the chemical composition and biological properties of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Inonotus obliquus from Finland, Russia, and Thailand. Their antioxidative, antimicrobial, and antiquorum properties were tested as well as the cytotoxicity on various tumor cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The tested extract was subjected to conventional chemical study to identified organic acids and phenolic compounds. Antioxidative activity was measured by several different assays. Antimicrobial potential of extracts was tested by microdilution method, and antiquorum sensing activity and antibiofilm formation of Inonotus obliquus extracts was tested on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested on tumor cells (MCF-7, NCI-H460, HeLa and HepG2) and non-tumor liver cells primary cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxalic acid was found as the main organic acid, with the highest amount in the aqueous extract from Russia. Gallic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were detected in all samples. Inonotus obliquus extracts showed high antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Extracts were tested at subMIC for anti-quorum sensing (AQS) activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all extracts showed definite AQS activity. The assays were done using twitching and swarming of bacterial cultures, and the amount of produced pyocyanin as QS parameters. All the extracts demonstrated cytotoxic effect on four tumor cell lines and not on primary porcine liver cells PLP2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the Inonotus obliquus presence in Chaga conks is limited, further purification is necessary to draw quantitative conclusions. The presence of AQS activity in medicinal mushrooms suggests a broader anti-infectious disease protection than only immunomodulatory effects.
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glamočlija
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ćirić
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miloš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.affiliation: Mountain Research Center (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Ap. 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ângela
authors.initials: Â
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Mountain Research Center (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Ap. 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Mountain Research Center (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Ap. 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Calhelha
authors.affiliation: Mountain Research Center (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Ap. 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel C F R
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soković
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen 6700 AA, Netherlands. Electronic address: leo.vangriensven@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Leo J L D
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: van Griensven
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004232:Diuretics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004232:Diuretics
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Antioxidant properties; Antiquorum effect; Antitumor activity; Chemical characterization; Inonotus obliquus