BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES OF METHANOL EXTRACTS OF DRIED Lactarius quetus AND Lactarius volemus BASIDIOMES MUSHROOMS: IDENTIFICATION AND POTENTIAL FUNCTION

The aim of this investigation was to study chemical composition and biological effects of substances present in methanol extract of dried basidiocarps of Lactarius quetus and L. volemus and the action of substances of milky juice isolated from these fungi on the mammalian cells and invertebrate organisms. It was found that fresh juice of Lactarius quetus mushrooms reduced the viability of transformed mouse fibroblasts of L929 line and caused the death of the crustaceans (Cyclops) plankton. The extract from dried basidiocarps was fractionated by various organic solvents under the scheme described above for Lactarius pergamenus mushrooms. Obtained fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. The largest range of compounds was present in the first (hexane) fraction containing substances whose analysis required additional separation on a silica gel column. The obtained fractions contained large amount of saturated and unsaturated higher fatty acids and their esters, phthalates and sesquiterpene compounds. Their composition and content in studied mushroom species differed significantly. The results of chemical analysis of mushroom basidiocarps allowed one to conclude that primary protective function in L. quetus, probably, was dependent on several sesquiterpene compounds of the azulene series - lactarorufin A and B. Since in L. volemus fungus the content of azulene and its derivatives is rather low, the biological activity of its milky juice towards the mammalian cells and small crustaceans is poorly studied.