The biotin-vitamer contents in mushrooms and biotin production by alcohol fermentation were studied. Among the mushrooms tested, Maitake (Grifola frondosa) fruit bodies showed the highest biotin-vitamer content at 102μg/100 g fresh weight. In the case of the mycelia of various mushrooms tested, Tamogitake (Pleurotus cornucopiae) and Maitake contained as much as 39.0^g and 35.0|a,g of biotin-vitamers/100 g fresh weight, respectively. The biotin-vitamer contents in beer, wine and sake fermented by Masutake (Laetiporus sulphureus) mycelia were 126μg/L, 73μg/L and 51μg/L, respectively. The biotin-vitamer in fruit bodies, mycelia and alcoholic drinks were identified as a mixture of biotin, dethiobiotin and 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid.

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The efficient disruption method for β-1,3-glucan determination from mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated by employment of mortar, coffee mill and Multi-beads Shocker (MBS). The disruption of mycelium using MBS shaking with metal corn for 90 seconds resulted in the smallest particle size distribution followed the highest extraction efficiency of β-1,3-glucan. Using the mycelium powders disrupted by MBS for 90 sec, the rapid extraction process (the MBS method) including successive use of MBS with glass beads was developed. When an extraction vessel of 2ml was filled up to 35% in volume ratio with extraction mixture, the greatest extraction efficiency was provided. The optimum conditions for the glucan extraction were placing 5 to 15mg of the powdered mycelium in the extraction vessel, and adding the glass beads having 0.5mm diameter, respectively. When this extraction process had been carried out, the total time required for preparations of hot-water extract and cold-alkaline extract was shortened to only 4 hours. Also, the total β-1,3-glucan content in the extract prepared by the new extraction method (the MBS method) was 43% higher than that by the general method reported previously.

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Acid-extracted polyamine fraction from the fruit bodies of 143 mushroom species were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Homospermidine, norspermidine, norspermine, thermospermine and canavalmine, in addition to common polyamines, putrescine, cadaverine, agmatine, spermidine and spermine, were detected in one third of the analyzed mushrooms. This is the first report on systematic screening of cellular polyamines in mushrooms belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The widespread occurrence of canavalmine was coupled with a high homospermidine level. Norspermidine, norspermine, and thermospermine were found together but did not coexist with canavalmine.

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Effect of trehalose supplementation into the culture medium on mycelial growth, trehalose contents and antioxidant activities in five edible mushrooms, Lentinula edodes, Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Grifora frondosa and Pleurotus eryngii, were investigated. The trehalose contents in mycelia of test mushrooms were remarkable increased with addition of trehalose into the medium, although the mycelial yields were slight decreased. The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities of mycelia were not affected with the trehalose supplementation. When trehalose was added at 5% into the medium, remarkable suppression of lipid peroxidation was observed in all mushrooms tested in thisstudy.

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A unique ridge-end tile with a relief of mushrooms was equipped with southwest down ridge-end on Jizo-dou in Jonenji-temple, Tsubai village, Heguri Town, located in the northwestern part of Nara Prefecture, Japan. Three fruit bodies at different growing stages were sculptured on this tile. On mature and young fruit bodies, their pilei were open but even convex at center, with inrolled margin. Stipe had almost equal thickness at top and base, not tapering below. Pileus and stipe were decorated with dense tiny lines look like fibrous scales throughout the surface. From these morphological characteristics, this relief seems to be drawing of the Matsutake, Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito & Imai) Sing., which had been abundantly produced around villages distributing the western foot of the Yata Hills in this town, and economically important harvest for trade.

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