The effect of tobacco extract as a biological elicitor on the growth and production of terpenoids of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum

The medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum has been used in traditional East Asian medicine for thousands of years to treat diseases. Studies show that terpenoids inhibit the growth of SW۶۲۰, ۹۵-D, and MCF‐۷ cancer cells. Despite the many properties of terpenoids, their use limited due to low production and difficult extraction. One way to increase the production of fungal secondary metabolites is to use elicitors in fungal culture media. The addition of tobacco extract as an inducer of apoptosis and p۴۵۰ can increase the production of terpenoids. This study aimed to evaluate and optimize tobacco extract effects on the growth and terpenoid production of Ganoderma lucidum CCGMC ۵.۶۱۶. After five days of culturing in YPD medium, terpenoids extracted using chloroform from dried mycelium. The tobacco extract was prepared from the dried leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. Tobacco extract in three concentrations (۰.۱, ۰.۴, ۰.۷ mg/L) was added to the fungus culture medium on the seventh day, and the mycelium was isolated after ۱۴ days. The effect of two variables of concentration and addition time of tobacco extract on growth and production of terpenoids optimized by the response surface method. The results show that the addition of tobacco extract to the fungal culture medium inhibits cell growth. Production of terpenoids increases by ۶۰% with the addition of ۰.۱ mg/L of tobacco extract. The response surface method analysis showed that both variables had significant effects (p≤۰.۰۵) on growth and terpenoid production. Most terpenoids are produced when cells are exposed to ۰.۲ mg/L of tobacco extract on the fourth day. In all samples treated with tobacco extract, the dry weight of mycelium increased compared to the control.The optimal amount of terpenoid production was ۲۶۰.۵ mg/g dry mycelium. The results of this study can be used to increase the production and effectiveness of terpenoids.