''Taiwanofungus camphoratus'', also known as stout camphor fungus, is a species of
fungus that is endemic to Taiwan, where it grows only on the endemic aromatic tree ''
Cinnamomum kanehirae
''Cinnamomum kanehirae'' (Chinese name niu zhang( 牛樟)), also known as small-flowered camphor tree, or stout camphor tree, is a tree within the genus '' Cinnamomum'' of the family Lauraceae endemic to Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the ...
'', causing a brown
heart rot.
Traditional medicine
It is used in Taiwanese
traditional medicine as a purported remedy for cancer, hypertension, and hangover. The annual market is worth over $100 million (US) in Taiwan alone. The 32.15 Mb
genome containing 9,254
genes has been sequenced.
''Taiwanofungus camphoratus'' has been found to produce anti-obesogenic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects in high-fat diet-fed mice.
Chemical constituents
Antcin B,
antrodioxolanone
Antrodioxolanone is an anti-inflammatory alkyne
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Acetylene
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Propyne
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1-Butyne
In organic chemistry, an alkyne is an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon—carbon triple bond. The simple ...
,
antrocamphin B
Antrocamphin B is an unusual chemical compound isolated from ''Taiwanofungus camphoratus
''Taiwanofungus camphoratus'', also known as stout camphor fungus, is a species of fungus that is endemic to Taiwan, where it grows only on the endemic ar ...
,
antroquinonol,
antrocamphins,
zhankuic acid
Zhankuic acids are sterols isolated from the fungus ''Taiwanofungus camphoratus''. Zhankuic acid C possesses ''in vitro'' anti-inflammatory properties due to its role as a selective TLR4/ MD-2 antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a stor ...
s, and other
antcins have been reported as constituents of ''Taiwanofungus camphoratus''.
Ecological concern
Because of its use as an
herbal remedy
Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies ...
, fruiting bodies of the fungus can fetch high prices. Good quality fruiting bodies were reported to cost as much as US$15,000/kg in 1997, before artificial cultivation methods were developed.
Some have illegally farmed the fungus in the forests of Taiwan by hollowing out endangered stout camphor trees (''Cinnamomum kanehirae''). This is despite the equal potency of ''T. camphotatus'' grown in a laboratory.
References
Further reading
*Chang, Tun-Tschu, and Wang, Wu-Rong. "Basidiomatal formation of ''Antrodia cinnamomea'' on artificial agar media." Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 46 (2005).
*
*
*Chang, Tun-Tschu, and Wen-Neng Chou. "''Antrodia cinnamomea'' reconsidered and ''A. salmonea'' sp. nov. on ''Cunninghamia konishii'' in Taiwan." Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 45 (2004).
External links
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Fungi described in 1990
Fungi of Taiwan
Fungal tree pathogens and diseases
Polyporales
Fungus species
{{Polyporales-stub