Study of Lipophilic Substances of Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull. Fr) Murril at Different Stages of Maturity of Mushroom Fruiting Bodies

Abstract

Lipophilic substances of fruiting bodies of Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull. Fr) Murril (Aphyllophorales, Polyporaceae), collected at different stages of development, were studied. The method of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used for their analysis. During the vegetative period of fruiting bodies of mushrooms (3–4 weeks), the mass and chemical composition of the lipophilic extract change significantly. The main substances of lipophilic extracts are fatty acids: saturated (palmitic and stearic) and unsaturated (oleic and linolenic), saturated hydrocarbons: docosane, tricosane, tetracosane, and pentacosane, as well as squalene. The percentage content of palmitic and stearic acids in the lipophilic extract during the growth of fruiting bodies remains approximately at the same level. The content of oleic acid increases with the age of fruiting bodies, while the content of linoleic acid, on the contrary, decreases. The squalene content is highest in young mushrooms and decreases with age. It is concluded that when analyzing the chemical composition of mushroom fruiting bodies, it is very important to indicate the stage of their development. As a source of squalene, young fruiting bodies of L. sulphureus may be of interest at some increase in its content.