PROCESS FOR PRODUCING, METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS OF CHOLESTEROL LOWERING AGENTS FROM HIGHER BASIDIOMYCETES MUSHROOMS

摘要

The present invention describes new and distinct strains of higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms, and a process for growing them in submerged cultur e. Specifically, the new strains of species of the genus Pleurotus offer superi or yields of mushroom biomass and concentrations of biologically active compounds, for example, cholesterol-lowering compounds, lectins, proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins or polysaccharides. The process includes use of defined media and a simple one-step procedure of separating the lovastati n- containing nutriceuticals from culture broth.