Analytical chemistry of edible and medicinal mushrooms

Daten

Offizielle Daten in der Fachveröffentlichung für das folgende akademische Jahr: 2026-2027

Thematik

Edible and medicinal mushrooms have received increasing attention in recent years in food science, health sciences, and natural sciences research. But what makes these mushrooms unique, and how can the composition of their bioactive compounds be scientifically investigated? This course addresses these questions from an analytical chemistry perspective.

During the course, students become familiar with the most important chemical constituents of edible and medicinal mushrooms, as well as with modern analytical methods used for their investigation. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how sampling, sample preparation, and extraction influence analytical results, and why different methods may lead to varying analytical data even when applied to the same sample.

The lectures introduce the most well-known edible and medicinal mushroom species and provide insight into the scientific background of their investigation. Students will also gain an understanding of how these mushrooms are represented in modern research and what analytical challenges arise when studying complex natural matrices.

During the laboratory sessions, students prepare mushroom extracts and examine their chemical characteristics using spectrophotometric methods. Through these measurements, students learn how to process, interpret, and compare analytical data, while gaining hands-on experience in the analysis of natural samples.

The course is particularly recommended for students interested in natural bioactive compounds, food and pharmaceutical research, and analytical chemistry, who would like to gain insight into a current and rapidly developing research field.

Vorlesungen

• 1. Definition of edible and medicinal mushrooms and analytical approaches - Dergez Tímea
• 2. Chemical composition and analytical characterisation of edible mushrooms - Dergez Tímea
• 3. Medicinal mushrooms I: Ganoderma and Cordyceps from historical and analytical perspectives - Dergez Tímea
• 4. Medicinal mushrooms II: Analytical characterisation of Hericium erinaceus and Lentinula / Agaricus blazei - Dergez Tímea
• 5. Sampling, extraction and antioxidant assays of mushroom matrices - Dergez Tímea
• 6. Analytical investigation of medicinal mushrooms in the scientific literature - Dergez Tímea

Praktika

• 1. Sampling, sample preparation and extraction of edible and medicinal mushrooms - Dergez Tímea
• 2. Sampling, sample preparation and extraction of edible and medicinal mushrooms - Dergez Tímea
• 3. Sampling, sample preparation and extraction of edible and medicinal mushrooms - Dergez Tímea
• 4. Measurement of antioxidant activity by spectrophotometric methods - Dergez Tímea
• 5. Measurement of antioxidant activity by spectrophotometric methods - Dergez Tímea
• 6. Measurement of antioxidant activity by spectrophotometric methods - Dergez Tímea

Seminare

Materialien zum Aneignen des Lehrstoffes

Obligatorische Literatur

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Vom Institut veröffentlichter Lehrstoff

The course is based on self-developed teaching materials. Lectures are delivered using detailed presentation slides (PPT), which are supplemented by summary notes provided to students.

Skript

Lecture summary notes are provided to students. A laboratory workbook is prepared for practical sessions, containing measurement tasks, structured data recording templates, and interpretation questions. The workbook supports independent student work and facilitates the systematic evaluation of experimental results.

Empfohlene Literatur

Christopher Hobbs: Christopher Hobbs's Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms

Voraussetzung zum Absolvieren des Semesters

One homework assignment in which students individually analyze a scientific article related to medicinal mushrooms. The results of the laboratory measurements are also included in this assignment.

Semesteranforderungen

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Möglichkeiten zur Nachholung der Fehlzeiten

based on individual consultation

Prüfungsfragen

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Prüfer

Praktika, Seminarleiter/innen

• Dergez Tímea