牛樟芝(Taiwanofungus camphoratus),又名牛樟菇、樟菇、窟內菰、神明菇,是一種藥用真菌,為多孔菌科 (Polyporaceae)台芝屬 (Taiwanofungus)的一種台灣特有真菌。牛樟芝一般生長於牛樟樹幹腐朽中空的內部或是已倒伏樹幹的潮濕那一面的表面上。野生牛樟芝普遍出現在老齡的牛樟樹上,其子實體形狀多所變化,有板狀、鍾狀、馬蹄狀或塔狀;初生之時為鮮紅色,隨時間漸長變為白色、淡紅褐色、淡褐色或淡黃褐色。牛樟芝之氣芳香味辛苦、平。有活血化淤、溫中消結、行氣祛風、鎮靜止痛、解毒消腫、抗腫瘤、抗菌、抗病毒、並可提升機體免疫力之效;對於治療酒精肝、脂肪肝、肝硬化、肝癌、胃腸疼痛、食物中毒、腹瀉嘔吐、糖尿病等更是有獨特功能。 牛樟芝具有許多的藥理活性成分,如多糖體、三萜類化合物、腺苷、核酸、蛋白質(含免疫蛋白)、維生素、微量元素、凝集素、氨基酸、固醇類等。牛樟芝的有效成分中以三萜類化合物為 最特別,高達200種以上,是其他菇菌無法相比的,200多種化合物之中的三萜類化合物最具特別功效,使牛樟芝具有抗癌、保肝等獨特功效。由於牛樟芝在台灣民間被視為獨特而珍貴的藥用真菌,因此具有極高的研究和商業價值,同時也是目前台灣最昂貴的野生真菌,台灣民間稱之為「森林中的紅寶石」。牛樟芝萃取物其藥理成分的含量對於其活性有很大的相關性,在本研究中,我們利用HPLC分析小麥固態培養牛樟芝萃取物的成分含量,分析評估牛樟芝萃取物中的三萜類化合物含量以確定適當的培養時間。
Taiwanofungus camphoratus and its host Cinnamomum kanehirae are both endemic species unique to Taiwan. Many studies have confirmed that T. camphorata is rich in triterpenoids that may carry medicinal effects in anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-hypertension, and anti-oxidation. In this study, we use the extraction of T. camphorata cultured in wheat to analyze the content of sulphurenic acid, dehydrosulphurenic acid, eburicoic acid and dehydroeburicoic acid. The results show the content of T. camphorata extraction has a great correlation with its activity. It is hoped that T. cinnamomea can be developed as a health-preserving health food in the future, which can reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic diseases and cancer, avoid the premature deterioration of the disease, and achieve the purpose of good health.