Medicinal mushrooms as recycling bio-agents for nutraceutical applications

Agricultural waste, a significant environmental challenge, is increasingly being recognized as a resource for eco-friendly and sustainable solutions. This PhD project investigates an eco-friendly way method to recycle hazelnut shells, an agricultural byproduct, through the cultivation of the lignicolous medicinal mushroom Lentinus tigrinus. This approach aligns with circular economy principles, aiming to reduce waste and maximize resource reuse. The project focuses on two main objectives: the first is to assess the growth of Lentinus tigrinus on hazelnut shells as a cultivation substrate, evaluating its efficiency and effectiveness as an alternative to traditional substrates. The second aim is to examine the bioactive properties of Lentinus tigrinus sporophores cultivated on hazelnut shells, specifically investigating their antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Chemical and biological analyses were performed to identify the bioactive molecules responsible for these effects, with a particular focus on phenolic compounds. In vitro assays confirmed the presence of antioxidant and antiperoxidative properties in the extracts derived from the sporophores cultivated on hazelnut shells, and the mycelium mixture with the substrate. The research was supported in part by the NODES project, funded by the MUR-M4C1.5 of PNRR under the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative. The project based on the results obtained during the first two years of the PhD project focused on the development of a mushrooms-based with potential anti-aging and antioxidant properties, derived from the extracts obtained by L. tigrinus sporophores and mycelium growth on hazelnut shells. This research represents a multidisciplinary approach, integrating waste valorisation, fungal biotechnology, and the analysis of bioactive compounds. The research follows key challenges in sustainability and waste management while creating opportunities for innovative health-promoting products, by demonstrating the potential of the circular economy to generate environmental, economic, and societal benefits, offering a potential solution for agricultural waste valorisation and the development of bio-based products in the cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.