Assays of the Biological Activities of Two Fatty Acid Derivatives Formed in the Edible Mushrooms Cantharellus cibarius and C. tubaeformis as a Response to Injury

Abstract

Cibaric acid (1) and 10-hydroxy-8-decenoic acid (2) are two fatty acid derivatives that are formed in the fruit bodies of Cantharellus cibarius (chanterelle) and C. tubaeformis as a response to injury. Unlike the potent defensive sesquiterpenes formed in injured fruit bodies of the pungent Lactarius species, compounds 1 and 2 only possess very weak antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Compound 2 was found to be a very weak direct-acting mutagen in the Ames test (<1 revertant/µg and plate), while cibaric acid (1) was inactive in this assay. As 1 is destroyed during cooking, there are currently no reasons for suspecting that the consumption of C. cibarius poses a risk to consumers.