Abstract—In an effort to record the macrofungi species of

Northern Samar, a questionnaire survey, visits and interviews were conducted in selected municipalities of Northern Samar. Macrofungi utilized for food and medicine were documented. In order to promote the use of macrofungi as sources of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed. Results showed that at least 18 macrofungi species were identified but only 4 species were traditionally used for food. The on-going research will lead to a new generation of foods and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal value. The results gathered in this study would help the communities better understand the diversity and potential of macrofungi leading to further scientific investigation and thus, more effective conservation and utilization.

Keywords—Nutrients, macrofungi utilization, Northern Samar, nutraceuticals.

I. INTRODUCTION HE rural communities of Northern Samar are known to utilize certain local wild mushrooms for food and

medicine, but this indigenous knowledge is poorly documented and not systematically recorded. Like most folk medicine, the claim of such efficacious medicinal fungi in treating certain ailments needs to be scientifically verified before they can be accepted or adopted. However, before investigation of such claims, it is important to first know and correctly identify the species used.

A nutraceutical can be defined as a substance that may be considered a food or part of a food and provides medical or health benefits, like the prevention and treatment of disease. Different macrofungi were studied by the scientific community in their search for new therapeutic alternatives, and the results proved their bioactive properties. Macrofungi are rich sources of nutraceuticals and are becoming more important in our diet due to their nutritional value. However, for macrofungi, only few isolated compounds are currently in study. Nevertheless,

1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines

2Department of Environmental Studies, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines,

3Department of Physical Sciences, College of Science, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines

4Research Office, University of Eastern Philippines, 6400 Catarman N. Samar, Philippines

macrofungi have demonstrated significant pharmacological activity including anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities. This research aims to survey and document the utilization of macrofungi for food and/or medicine. This information would help us better understand the diversity and potential of Northern Samar’s forest fungi leading to further scientific investigation and thus, more effective utilization and conservation of this valuable but often neglected resource.

II. METHODOLOGY Municipalities in Northern Samar to be surveyed were

identified based on distribution and accessibility. All visits were made together with Barangay officials. The interview was conducted through formatted interviews of individuals using a specially prepared questionnaire. During the survey, wherever possible or available, samples of macrofungi utilized by the local communities were photographed and collected and any additional information or data not covered by the questionnaire were recorded. Macrofungi specimens, where available, were taken back to the College of Science, UEP for further taxonomic study.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION There were eighteen (18) macrofungi species which were

present and distributed in selected municipalities of Northern Samar. The species composition of macrofungi in Northern Samar is presented in Table 1. A total of 18 species were identified and they belonged to two (2) phyla: Basidiomycota and Ascomycota; three (3) classes: Heterobasidiomycetes, Agaricomycetes, and Basidiomycetes; five (5) orders: Auriculariales, Agaricales, Cantharellales, Polyporales, and Hyenochaetaetales; and thirteen (13) families: Auriculariaceae, Cantharellaceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Tricholomataceae, Bolbitiaceae, Marasmiaceae, Schizophyllaceae, Inocybaceae, Ganodermataceae, Sparassidaceae, Polyporaceae, and Agaricaceae.

Inventory and Utilization of Macrofungi Species for Food and Medicine

Abel Alejandro U. Flores, Jr1,4, Ma. Lourdes C. Alvarez3,4, Franklin E. Cortez2,4, Blenah O. Perez1,4, Felisa L. Sanico3,4, Ma. Judy M. Somoray3,4, Manuela Cecille G. Vicencio1,4,

and *Karina Milagros R. Cui3,4

T

International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)

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TABLE I MACROFUNGI SPECIES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Species Common / Local name Economic

uses

Auricularia

auricula-judae Unknown

Auricularia polytricha Taingang-daga Edible; used for food

Cantharellus cibarius Banay Edible; used for

food

Fomitopsis pinicola Unknown

Ganoderma adspersum Unknown

Ganoderma lucidum Unknown

Inocybe rimosa Ligbos Edible; used for

food

Inonotus radiatus Unknown

Lycoperdon mammiforme Unknown

Mycela leptocephala Unknown

Panaeolus campanulatus Unknown

Panaeolus papilionaceus Unknown

Pleurocybella porrigens Unknown

Pycnoporus cinnabarinus Unknown

Schizophyllum commune Kurakdot Edible; used for

food

Sparassis radicata Unknown

Trametes hirsute Unknown

Trametes versicolor Unknown

Based On The Interview Conducted, There Were Four (4) Species That Were Locally Considered Or Known As Edible By The Local Residents, Namely: Schizophyllum Commune Locally Known As Kurakdot, Cantharellus Cibarius Locally Known As Banay, Auricularia Polytricha Locally Known As Taingang Daga, And Inocybe Rimosa Locally Known As Ligbos. Knowledge About The Utilization Of The Various Species Of Fungi Varied Greatly Between Municipalities. Fungi Were Collected For The Communities’ Own Consumption And Not For Commercial Purposes. It Appeared In The Survey That Trade In Edible Fungi Is Generally Not Important For The Different Municipalities And Is Not An Important Source Of Income In Generalhelpful Hints

IV. CONCLUSION This work presents knowledge about the utilization of the

various species of fungi, which varied greatly between municipalities. Fungi were collected for the communities’ own consumption and not for commercial purposes. It appeared that trade in edible and medicinal fungi are generally not important for the municipalities in Northern Samar.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors are grateful to the University of Eastern

Philippines, Office of Research and Development Services for

the financial support of this work.

REFERENCES [1] Barros, et al., Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.04.030 [2] May, et al., Phytochemistry, 2010.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.12.002 [3] Alonso, et al., Microchemical, 2012. [4] Lee and Chang, Forest Ecology and Management, 2012. [5] Mari, Anne, Basic and Applied Ecology, 2009. [6] Minter, et al., British Mycological Society, 2012. [7] Dunn, et al., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2012

Fig. 1 Fomitopsis pinicola

Fig. 2 Mycena leptocephala

Fig. 3 Pleurocybella porrigens

International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)

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Fig. 4 Inonotus radiates

Fig. 5. Auricularia auricula judae

Fig. 6. Pleurocybella porrigens

Fig. 7 Auricularia polytricha (Taingang daga)

Fig. 8 Schizophyllum commune (Kurakdot)

Fig. 9 Pycnoporus cinnabarinus

Fig. 10 Panaeolus papilionaceus

Fig. 11 Lycoperdon mammiforme pers

International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)

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Fig. 12 Trametes hirsute

Fig. 13 Panaeolus papilionaceus

Fig. 14 Trametes versicolor.

Fig. 15 Panaeolus campanulatus

Fig. 16 Sparassis radicata

International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (BCES-2014) June 14-15, 2014 Penang (Malaysia)

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