title: A safety assessment of Coriolus versicolor biomass as a food supplement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coriolus versicolor (CV) is a common mushroom with antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties. The existence of these properties has been extensively proven mainly using CV extract; research on the biomass form is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of the CV biomass form, as it is commonly used as a food supplement.
  
  
  METHODS
  CV biomass powder was dissolved in distilled water and administered daily (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g/kg live weight) in single doses by gavage to both female and male Charles River albino rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No adverse or lethal effects were observed as a consequence of the daily administration of CV biomass. In addition, compared with the control group, no abnormal findings were observed at necropsy and histopathological examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A safe profile of CV biomass for human consumption can be inferred from the absence of any remarkable adverse effects in rats.
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; anabdebarros@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education, Maputo, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrão
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education, Maputo, Mozambique.|Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon University, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernandes
keywords: Coriolus versicolor; biomass; food supplement; mushrooms; safety assessment