Ethnomycological Expedition: Mycophagy, Species Listing and Toxicity Assessment of Macrofungi in Bambang Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines

Abstract

In the Philippines, studies have been conducted on the taxonomic identification of wild macrofungi. However, data about the utilization, diversity, and toxicity of wild macrofungi are still insufficient especially from the mountainous hard to reach areas of the country. Therefore, this study was conducted to document the macrofungal species utilization and diversity of wild macrofungi in Barangay Buag, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya to come up with a species listing of macrofungi in the area and screening of selected macrofungi for its teratogenic and cytotoxic activity using Danio rerio embryo and Artemia salina nauplii. Purposive sampling method was used in the collection of the macrofungi species. Results showed that 15 macrofungi were declared as utilized either as food, medicine, or as an additional source of income by the community. During the collection, 53 macrofungal samples were collected; of these eight were utilized and identified by the community with their local names. However, only seven of the eight species were identified scientifically using their morphological and molecular characteristics namely: Auricularia cornea, Schizophyllum commune, Coprinus disseminatus, Mycena sp., Ganoderma lucidum, Polyporous tenuiculus, and Volvariella volvacea. Out of the 53 macrofungal samples collected 44 (39 morphologically and 5 molecularly) were identified, 24 were identified to species level, and 20 were identified to genus level, all belonging to 20 families 32 genera and 24 species. The molecularly identified macrofungi are Ganoderma neo-japonicum, Ganoderma applanatum, Polyporus tenuiculus, Agaricus erectosquamosus and Helotiales sp. Lyophilized hot water extract (LHWE) of Ganoderma applanatum and Thelepora sp. generally exhibited teratogenic effects against developing D. rerio embryos during the teratogenicity assay. The varying treatment concentration of the LHWE of G. applanatum and Thelephora sp. significantly revealed toxic effects such as coagulation and no heartbeat, for teratogenic effects of the extract, growth retardation, scoliosis, malformation of head, and malformation of tail were the noted effects on the developing D. rerio. Furthermore, the other abnormalities that were not mentioned as teratogenic endpoints were observed such as unpigmented tail, and curved embryo body. The LHWE of G. applanatum and Thelephora sp. projected an LC50 of 979.33 ppm (mildly toxic) and 10.763 ppm (highly toxic) respectively which was based on the brine shrimp lethality assay.