Genotoxicity, Acute and Sub-Chronic Toxicity Studies of Solid-State Cultivated Mycelial Powder of Antrodia cinnamomea

Antrodia cinnamomea is a precious medicinal mushroom endemic to Taiwan that has been used as folk medicine for health promotion and treating various diseases. In this study, the toxicological assessment of solid-state cultivated mycelial powder of A. cinnamomea (LE-SC) was performed using in vitro and in vivo assays. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of LE-SC was determined to be greater than 13.3 g/kg bw. In addition, LE-SC showed no mutagenicity in Ames test and no genotoxic activity up to the dose of 10 g/kg bw in mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus and mice sperm abnormality tests. Moreover, result from 90 days repeated dose toxicity test showed that administration of LE-SC (1.9, 3.8 and 7.6 g/kg bw) in the diet had no observable adverse effects in both male and female rats. Accordingly, the results ensured the safety of LE-SC as food supplement and for human consumption.