Comprehensive assessment of secondary metabolite diversity and in vitro anti-diabetic properties in Sanghuangporus quercicola cultured under different conditions

Abstract

The genus Sanghuangporus, renowned in China for its traditional use due to its antitumor, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic properties, includes medicinal species with therapeutic potential. However, the metabolic profile of Sanghuangporus quercicola under different cultivation strategies remains poorly understood. Here, we present the first metabolomic comparison of S. quercicola fruiting bodies and mycelia obtained via substitute cultivation, solid-state fermentation, and submerged fermentation. (I) UHPLC-QTOF-MS-based untargeted metabolomics identified 164 metabolites, including phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, and nitrogen-containing compounds, with 57 showing significant differential accumulation. (II) Multivariate analyses (PCA, PLS-DA) and KEGG pathway enrichment revealed that solid-state fermentation enhanced bioactive metabolite accumulation, especially phenolics and terpenoids, whereas substitute cultivation yielded greater chemical diversity in fruiting bodies, suggesting potential for targeted therapeutic development. (III) In vitro assays showed that the solid-state fermentation extract exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition (95.35%) and moderate α-amylase inhibition (30.50%), comparable to those of acarbose, indicating selective modulation of carbohydrate digestion. These findings highlight cultivation-dependent metabolic reprogramming in S. quercicola and its potential as a source of functional anti-diabetic agents, while encouraging future in vivo validation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Sanghuangporus quercicola / Cultivation methods / Secondary metabolites / Phenolic compounds / Anti-diabetic activity

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Funding

Project of Shandong Province Higher Educational Science and Technology Program(M-2023035)

Modern Agricultural Technology Industry System of Shandong province(2021 No. 26)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Jiangnan University