Triterpenoid Analysis of White Mutant Antrodia Cinnamomea with Differing Carbon Sources from Solid and Submerged Culture

Antrodia cinnamomea is a fungus endemic to Taiwan that exhibits various medicinal properties, many of which stem from its unique triterpenoids. Studies on A. cinnamomea generally focus on the red phenotype while only a handful of studies on its naturally-occurring mutant white phenotype exist. This study investigated the effect of two different culture types (solid-state dish culture and submerged flask culture) and three carbon sources (glucose, maltose and sucrose) on the mycelial dry weight and triterpenoid content of red (AC) and white (W) strains of A. cinnamomea. The concentrations of eight key triterpenoid compounds were also determined to compare triterpenoid profiles. Biomass accumulation in solid-state culture was significantly larger for the W strain than for the AC strain. In submerged culture mycelial biomass was not significantly different between strains. The AC strain had significantly higher triterpenoid content in both culture systems. Although both strains responded similarly to each carbon source with regards to mycelial dry weight, their triterpenoid content differed in solid state culture. None of the eight key compounds were found in the W strain. This study indicates that the triterpenoid profile of in vitro cultured white A. cinnamomea differs from red strains, and that further investigation of their metabolomic profiles is required.