‘Nutriceutical’ mushrooms

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Two mushroom species with medicinal values have been found thriving in Benguet and Pangasinan.

The species have been identified as Ganoderma applanatum and Ganoderma lucidum.

In studies done by researchers of the Benguet State University (BSU) based in this capital town, it was found that G. applanatum felt at home in high elevations (900 meters above sea level or MASL) as in Sablan town with the temperature ranging from 20 to 26 degrees Celsius.

G. lucidum, on the other hand, was found fruiting at lower elevation (280 MASL) as in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

Study 1, titled "Survey, Collection, and Identification of Ganoderma species in Benguet and Pangasinan," was conducted by Bernard Tad-awan and Juvy Cuaresma. Study 2, "Nutrient Growth Factors for Mycelial Production of Ganoderma lucidum," was done by Tad-awan and Jessie Aspiras.

The respondents in the studies were residents of four barangays each of Sablan and Manaoag.

BSU reported that many species of Ganoderma, one of the largest genera of polypore fungi, are good sources of nutriceutical products as well as white rot decomposers of dead wood in nutrient cycling, as found in earlier studies done in other countries.

"As neutriceuticals, Ganoderma lucidum contains active components which have a curative effect on various diseases like hypertension, high blood sugar levels, high blood cholesterols, allergic reaction, insomnia, cancer, and many more," reported BSU, quoting studies done abroad.

In the Philippines, little information is available on Ganoderma.

The BSU studies indicated that areas with high altitude and cooler climate and with pine forest cover such as Sablan have Ganoderma applanatum while places with lower elevation and warmer climate have G. lucidum.

Of the researchers’ 30 respondents, 67 percent were aware of Ganoderma’s utilization and 33 percent were not. From the respondents aware of Ganoderma’s uses, 37 percent claimed that the mushroom was used as neutriceuticals and 30 percent for arts and decoration.

The Sablan residents call G. lucidum as "batikuleng ti kayo" (gizzard of tree), "shantung", "tangila", "tangi-da (la)", "kuding", "guleng", and "ing-inga". The Manaoag folk call it "uong kayo" (tree mushroom).

Both the Sablan and Manaoag residents call G. applanatum "lap-lapayag kayo" (tree ear), "taingang-daga", and "batang".

The researchers said that the information generated by the study may help in the morphological characterization, classification, host and geographic distribution, as well as provide information on the mushroom’s diversity in the country and conservation of Ganoderma species.

They concluded: "Concerted effort among government agencies and local communities is important in the development and implementation of policies on genetic resources of Ganoderma. For instance, Ganoderma spp. as important genetic resource should be conserved, protected, and whenever explored for neutriceutical production should be in the context of IPRA (Indigenous People’ Rights Act) law to benefit the indigenous people." – Rudy A. Fernandez