Methods and compositions for improving the nutritional content of mushrooms and fungi

Abstract

An improved filamentous fungi is disclosed that has an enhanced nutritional profile by utilizing pulsed ultraviolet irradiation. According to the invention, the vitamin D component of mushrooms and other filamentous fungi may be drastically increased with no deleterious affects on appearance with the use of pulsed UV radiation. Mushrooms so treated had up to 1800% DV in one serving of fresh mushrooms.

1 . A pulsed UV irradiated, filamentous fungi, tissue, substrate, spent substrate or component thereof, with increased levels of Vitamin D, when compared with a non-irradiated pulsed UV filamentous fungi. 
   
   
       2 . The filamentous fungi of  claim 1  wherein said Vitamin D is Vitamin D 2 . 
   
   
       3 . The filamentous fungi of  claim 1  wherein said filamentous fungi is a mushroom. 
   
   
       4 . The mushroom of  claim 3  wherein said mushroom is of a species selected from the group consisting of:  Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus.    
   
   
       5 . The mushroom of  claim 4  wherein said mushroom is selenium enriched. 
   
   
       6 . The mushroom of  claim 4  wherein said mushroom's ergothioneine content remains unchanged after UV treatment. 
   
   
       7 . The mushroom of  claim 3  wherein said fungi is in powder form. 
   
   
       8 . The filamentous fungi of  claim 2  wherein said Vitamin D 2  content is increased to about 800% of the daily recommended value of said vitamin. 
   
   
       9 . The filamentous fungi of  claim 1  wherein said filamentous fungi does not have discoloration from the UV treatment. 
   
   
       10 . The filamentous fungi tissue of  claim 1  wherein said tissue is mycelium. 
   
   
       11 . The filamentous fungi substrate of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is air dried. 
   
   
       12 . A nutritional food product comprising a UV irradiated, filamentous fungi, tissue, substrate or component thereof with higher levels of Vitamin D than a non-irradiated product. 
   
   
       13 . An animal feed product comprising UV irradiated mushroom substrate or spent substrate with increased levels of Vitamin D 2  when compared to a non-irradiated mushroom substrate or spent substrate. 
   
   
       14 . The animal feed product of  claim 13  wherein said mushroom substrate is king oyster substrate. 
   
   
       15 . The animal feed product of  claim 13  wherein said mushroom substrate maitake substrate. 
   
   
       16 . The animal feed product of  claim 13  wherein said mushroom substrate is air dried. 
   
   
       17 . A method of increasing the nutritional content of filamentous fungi, tissues, substrate, spent substrate or components thereof comprising:
 introducing to said fungi pulsed UV irradiation at a time and level sufficient to convert ergosterol to Vitamin D without deleterious effects on the appearance of the fungi.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said UV radiation is at an energy range of approximately 1-10 J/cm2 per pulse. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said UV irradiation is at an energy range of approximately 3-8 J/cm2. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said UV irradiation is at an energy range of approximately 5-6 J/cm2. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said pulses are at a range of approximately 1-50 pulses per second. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said pulses are at a range of approximately 1-30 pulses per second. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said pulses are at a range of 1-10 pulses per second. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said treatment is for a time period of about 0.1 to about 60 seconds. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said treat is at a distance of 3.2 cm from the window or 9 cm from the lamp. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said mushroom is selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes,  and  Pleurotus ostreatus.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said tissue is mycelium. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said Vitamin D enriched component is mushroom substrate. 
   
   
       29 . A treated mushroom which has increased Vitamin D content compared to an untreated mushroom achieved by the method of  claim 17 . 
   
   
       30 . The treated mushroom of  claim 29  wherein said mushroom has been treated from approximately 10 to 20 seconds of pulsed UV exposure and has about 10 to about 20 times the Vitamin D level of an untreated mushroom. 
   
   
       31 . The treated mushroom of  claim 29  wherein said mushroom has approximately 490% or more of the DV/serving of Vitamin D in one serving of mushrooms. 
   
   
       32 . The treated mushroom of  claim 29  wherein said mushroom has no browning appearance from said treatment.