Biochemical Composition and Medicinal Properties of Inonotus obliquus Pil.

Birch chaga is a popular functional component. This fungus is rich in chemical and biologically active substances, but the composition is so complex that their extraction remains a challenge. This article describes the functional and medicinal status of Inonotus obliquus Pil. in terms of its prospects for the food industry. The research featured the conk of I. obliquus, its in-vitro cell suspension culture, and callus cell culture. A set of standard research methods made it possible to study such aspects as microscopic parameters, chemical composition, and methods of introducing chaga into in-vitro culture, as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of chaga extract. I. obliquus proved to contain such beneficial elements as P0, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+. The list of biologically active substances included melanin, vitamins C and E, selenium, β-carotene, etc. The main biological component was a polyphenoloxycarbonate complex, an aqueous extract that formed a colloidal polydisperse system. The rational conditions for I. obliquus suspension culture were as follows: cultivation for 30 days in the dark at 27 °C and 60–70% humidity. The optimal nutrient medium consisted of 40.0 glucose, 5.0 peptone, 2.0 yeast extract, 1.0 KH2PO4, 0.5 MgSO4, 8–9 agar, and 0.5 g/l potato starch. The highest growth index was 15.9 g. The antioxidant activity across the experimental aqueous extracts were similar, ranging from 27 to 31 kC/100 g. The highest antimicrobial effect was detected against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The experimental functional product from wheat flour and I. obliquus was reliably rich in beneficial bioactive substances, which rationalizes the current popularity of chaga fungus in the modern food industry.