Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Ethnomycological use of Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. and Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.) P. Karst. in Transylvania, Romania

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In Transylvania, part of Romania, fungi are traditionally used in the human medicine, handicraft, and several customs for a long time past. This study aimed at systematic collecting of ethnomycological and ethnomedicinal data of Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. and Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.) P. Karst. in Corund in south-eastern Transylvania. In addition, we aimed to compare our data with earlier ethnomycological and pharmacological records of the region and other countries. The fieldwork was carried out in Corund in 2012–2013. The visited “toplász” people who work with tinders were asked with semi-structured interviews to list the harvesting method and time, storage and preparations, as well as the ethnomycological and ethnomedicinal use of the fruit body of tinder fungus and birch polypore. Literature data were collected from the major scientific databases. The ethnomycological use of tinder fungus and birch polypore starts with the traditional steps of collection, storage, and trimming and involves the use for ethnomedicinal purposes and preparation of unique handmade products. These preparations are still available on national and international markets nowadays. The ethnobotanical use of these fungi resulted in a special local occupation in Corund, which is a unique activity in the world. Unfortunately, it seems to be a disappearing tradition nowadays because of the lack of transmission. Therefore, these living data should be urgently documented and preserved for the maintenance of this valuable local tradition and knowledge of Székelys.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bagladi O (2011) Linguistical study of the Hungarian names of fungi (in Hungarian). PhD Dissertation, Pannon University, Veszprém

  • Baranyi J (2011) Masters of the preparation of tinders (in Hungarian). In: KajatiGY (ed) Népi mesterségekkel a helyi termékfejlesztésért a természet- és társadalombarát Kárpát-medencében. Kárpátikum Közhasznú Alapítvány, pp 49–51

  • Bedő K (2002) Ethnomycological use of tinder fungus (in Hungarian). Természet Világa, 133(11), http://www.termeszetvilaga.hu/archiv/tv2002/tv0211/bedo.html

  • Breitenbach J, Kränzlin F (1986) Fungi of Switzerland, Vol. 2: non-Gilled Fungi. Verlag Mykologia, Luzern

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryce TA, Campbell IM, McCorkindale NJ (1967) Metabolites of the Polyporaceae I: novel conjugates of polyporenicacida from Piptoporus betulinus. Tetrahedron 23:3427–3434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W, Zhao Z, Chen SF, Li YQ (2008) Optimization for the production of exopolysaccharide from Fomes fomentarius in submerged culture and its antitumor effect in vitro. Bioresour Technol 99:3187–3194

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coy ED, Nieto IJ (2009) Sterol composition of the macromycete fungus Laetiporus sulphureus. Chem Nat Compd 45:193–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cyranka M, Grąz M, Kaczor J, Kandefer-Szerszen M, Walezak K, Kapka-Skrzypczak L, Rzeski W (2011) Investigation of antiproliferative effect of ether and ethanol extracts of birch polypore medicinal mushroom, Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.: Fr.) P.Karst. (higher basidiomycetes) in vitro grown mycelium. Int J Med Mushrooms 13:525–533

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doniţă N, Doina I, Coldea GH, Sanda V, Popescu A, Chifu TH, Paucă-Comănescu M, Mititelu D, Boşcaiu N (1993) Vegetation of Romania (in Romanian). Editura Tehnică Agricolă, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans S, Kibby G (2005) Fungi (in Hungarian). Panemex and Grafo, Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Fekete PH (1958) Preparation of tinders for firing (in Hungarian). Ethnographia 69(3):465–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng W, Yang J (2010) Studies on chemical constituents of Fomes fomentarius (L.Ex.Fr.). Chin Pharm J 20:1528–1530

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferenczi G (1961) Preparation of tinders in Corund (in Hungarian). Ethnographia 72(1):100–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao HL, Lei LS, Yu CL, Zhu ZG, Chen NN, Wu SG (2009) Immunomodulatory effects of Fomes fomentarius polysaccharides: an experimental study in mice. Nan FangYi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 29:458–461

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gáspár GY (1944) Masters of tinders in Corund (in Hungarian). Búvár 10(2):61–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Göpfert H (1982) Pilze aus jungsteinzeitlichen Siedlungen. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde 124:50–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregor F (1973) Hungarian local names of fungi (in Hungarian). Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Greinke U, Zöll M, Peintner U, Rollinger MJ (2014) European medicinal polypores—A modern view on traditional uses. J Ethnopharm 154:564–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gub J (1993) Ethnobotanical data in Nagy-Homoród and Nagy-Küküllő (in Hungarian). Néprajzi Látóhatár 2(1–2):95–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilmann-Clausen J, Boddy L (2005) Inhibition and stimulation effects in communities of wood decay fungi: exudates from colonized wood influence growth by other species. Microbial Ecol 49:399–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heklau H, Dörfelt H (2015) Feuer-Pilze – zur Geschichte der Beherrschung des Feuers mit Hilfe von Pilzen. Boletus 36(1):13–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Herkely K (1941) Local sylviculture in Veszprém County (in Hungarian). Ethnographia 52(1):54–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs C (1995) Medicinal mushrooms: an exploration of tradition, Healing and Culture. Botanica Press, Santa Cruz

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang TZ, Du DY, Chen YQ, Yuan B, Ju XY, Feng YJ, Wang L, Jiang JH (2012) Chemical constituents and antitumor activity of fruiting body of Fomes fomentarius. Jun wu Xuebao 31:775–783

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hybelbauerova S, Sejbal J, Dračynsky M, Hahnova A, Koutek B (2008) Chemical constituents of Stereum subtomentosum and two other birch-associated Basidiomycetes: an interspecies comparative study. Chem Biodivers 5:743–750

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • István L (1991) Profession of the masters of tinders in Corund (in Hungarian). Honismeret 19(1):75–79

    Google Scholar 

  • István L, Szőcs L (2008) Preparation of tinders in Corund (in Hungarian). Hargita Megyei Hagyományőrzési Forrásközpont, Udvarhelyszék Kulturális Egyesület, Odorheiu Secuiesc

  • Ito H, Sugiura M, Miyazaki T (1976) Antitumor polysaccharide fraction from the culture filtrate of Fomes fomentarius. Chem Pharm Bull 24(10):2575

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jahn H (1990) Pilze an Bäumen. Patzer Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakab E (1883) Tinders as the material of the Székely home industry (in Hungarian). Magyarország és a Nagyvilág 20(38):599–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamo T, Asanoma M, Shibata H, Hirota M (2003) Anti-inflammatory Lanostane-Type Triterpene Acids from Piptoporus betulinus. J Nat Prod 66:1104–1106

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kandefer-Szerszen M, Kawecki Z, Guz M (1979) Fungal nucleic acids as interferon inducers. Biol Abstracts 95(11):277–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Kicsi SA (1998) Use of the antibleeding effect of tinders and puff-ball in the Hungarian ethnomedicine (in Hungarian). In: Pozsony F (ed) Kriza János Néprajzi Társaság Évkönyve 6. KJNT, Cluj Napoca, pp 277–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Kicsi SA (2009) Fungi’names in Gheorgheni (in Hungarian). Napút 2:80–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Killermann S (1938) Ehemaliger Apothekerpilz. Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde 22:11–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim H, Song MJ (2014) Analysis of traditional knowledge for wild edible mushrooms consumed by residents living in Jirisan National Park (Korea). J Ethnopharm 153:90–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozma M (ed) (1998) Roaming in Székelyland I. Hargita County (in Hungarian). Pallas Akadémia Könyvkiadó, Miercurea Ciuc, pp 193–197

  • Kreisel H (2014) Ethnomykologie. Verzeichnis der ethnomykologisch, biotechnologisch und toxikologisch relevanten Pilze. Literatur—Kunst—Volksmedizin—Pharmazie—Techniken—Drogen—Toxine—Farbstoffe. Weissdorn Verlag, Jena

  • Küzdi Á (1893) The tinder industry (in Hungarian). Erdészeti Lapok 32(11):880–889

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohwag K (1965) Birkenschwammschnitzereien aus der Steiermark. Mitt Naturwiss Ver Steiermark 95:136–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh RW (1973) Micological millinery. B Brit Mycol Soc 7:35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mellin CJ (1791) Die Hausmittel. Ein Wörterbuch für Jedermann. Zum Besten der Armen. Johann Andreas Kienreich, Graz

  • Molnár B (1943) Firing with tinders (in Hungarian). Néprajzi Értesítő 35(2):118–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Neidermüller P (1981) The magic role of the first fire in the Carpathian sheperd’s folklore (in Hungarian). Ethnographia 92(4):400–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Pál-Fám F (2006) Tinders in Székelyland I. Polyporaceaes.l. (in Hungarian). Moeszia-Erdélyi Gombász 3:3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Park YM, Kim IT, Park HJ, Choi JW, Park KY, Lee JD, Nam BH, Kim DG, Lee JY, Lee KT (2004) Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of the methanol extract of Fomes fomentarius. Biol Pharm Bull 27:1588–1593

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pegler DN (2000) Useful fungi of the world: some use of bracket fungi. Mycologist 14:6–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peintner U, Pöder R (2000) Ethnomycological remarks on the Iceman’s fungi. In: Bortenschlager S, Oeggl K (eds) The Iceman and his natural environment. Springer, Vienna, pp 143–150

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Peintner U, Pöder R, Pümpel T (1998) The Iceman’s fungi. Mycol Res 102:1153–1162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pöder R, Peintner U (1999) Laxatives and the Ice Man. Lancet 353:926

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radványi A (1912) Tinder industry in Székelyland (in Hungarian). Erdészeti Lapok 51(17):700–710

    Google Scholar 

  • Rösecke J, König WA (2000) Constituents of various wood-rotting basidiomycetes. Phytochemistry 54:603–610

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rösecke J, Pietsch M, König WA (2000) Volatile constituents of wood-rotting basidiomycetes. Phytochemistry 54:747–750

  • Rutalek R (2002) Ethnomykologie—Eine Übersicht. Österr Z Pilzkd 11:79–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryvarden L, Gilbertson RL (1993) European polypores. Vol. 1. Oslo, Norway: Fungiflora, pp 1–387

  • Saar M (1991) Fungi in Khanty folk medicine. J Ethnopharm 31:175–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlegel B, Luhmann U, Hartl A, Grafe U (2000) Piptamine, a new antibiotic produced by Piptoporus betulinus Lu 9-1. J Antibiot 53:973–974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarze FWMR, Engels J, Mattheck C (2000) Fungal strategies of wood decay in trees. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 195 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sulkowska-Ziaja K, Muszynska B, Motyl P, Pasko P, Ekiert H (2012) Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in some species of polyporoid mushrooms from Poland. Int J Med Mushrooms 14:385–393

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Szőcs L (1997) Tinder articles in the markets in Arcso (in Hungarian). In: Ambrus L (ed) The markets in Corund, Arcso, 1978–1997. Firtos Művelődési Egylet, Corund, pp 40–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoen D (1982) Usage et legendes lies aux polypores. B SocMycol Fr 98(3):289–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Timkó GY (1906) Steel-flint-tinder in Hungary (in Hungarian). Néprajzi Értesítő 7(1):11–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Tófalvi Z (1993) Preparation of the tinders in Salzgebiet (in Hungarian). Hazanéző 1:23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Vetter J (1993) Medicinal fungi (in Hungarian). Gyógyszerészet 37:945–949

    Google Scholar 

  • Viski K (1932) Tinder, steel, firing (in Hungarian). Néprajzi Értesítő 24(2):84–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Vofkori L (2004) Travellings in Székelyland (in Hungarian). Pro-Print Könyvkiadó, Miercurea Ciuc, pp 101–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Wangung HVK, Berg A, Hertel W, Nkengfack AE, Hertweck C (2004) Anti-inflammatory anti-hyaluronatelyase activities of lanostanoids from Piptoporus betulinus. J Antibiot 57:755–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasson RG (1969) Soma: divine mushroom of immortality. Harcourt Brace and World, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiater A, Paduch R, Pleszczynska M, Prochniak K, Choma A, Kandefer-Szerszen M, Szczodrak J (2011) Alpha-(1,3)-D-glucans from fruiting bodies of selected macromycetes fungi and the biological activity of their carboxymethylated products. Biotechnol Lett 33:787–795

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita S, Hattori T, Abe H (2010) Host preference and species richness of wood-inhabiting aphyllophoraceous fungi in a cool temperate area of Japan. Mycologia 102(1):11–19

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ying J, Mao X, Ma Q, Zong Y, Wen H (1987) Icones of medicinal fungi from China. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Zang Y, Xiong J, Zhai WZ, Cao L, Zhang SP, Tang Y, Wang J, Su JJ, Yang GX, Zhao Y, Fan H, Xia G, Wang CG, Hu JF (2013) Fomentarols A-D, sterols from the polypore macrofungus Fomes fomentarius. Phytochemistry 92:137–145

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zsigmond GY (1994) The role of fungi in the Hungarian folklore (in Hungarian). Kriza J. Néprajzi Társaság Évkönyve 2, ClujNapoca

  • Zsigmond GY (2001) Profession and art of tinder’s preparation (in Hungarian). Közbirtokossági Hírvivő 1(10–11):17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Zsigmond GY (2006) Tinder fungus and birch polypore in the Hungarian folklore (in Hungarian). Moeszia-Erdélyi Gombász 3(3):36–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Zsigmond GY (2005) Mushrooms in Hungarian folk medicine (in Hungarian). Sănătatea Plantelor, special edition, pp 32–44

  • Zsigmond GY (2007) Ethnomycological data in Scaunul Arieşului (in Hungarian). In: Keszeg V, Szabó ZS (eds) Hungarians in Scaunul Arieşului. Kriterion, Bucharest, pp 229–231

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to the informants for sharing their knowledge. The work was supported by the OTKA (Hungarian Scientific Research Fund) Grant (PD 108534).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Nóra Papp

    Present address: Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Pécs, 2 Rókus Street, Pécs, 7624, Hungary

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Pécs, 2 Rókus Street, Pécs, 7624, Hungary

    Nóra Papp & Tímea Bencsik

  2. Department of Plant Production and Plant Protection, University of Kaposvár, Guba S 40, Kaposvár, 7400, Hungary

    Kinga Rudolf

  3. Department of Hungarian Ethnography and Anthropology, University of Babeş-Bolyai of Cluj-Napoca, Horea 31, 400202, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Dóra Czégényi

Authors
  1. Nóra Papp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kinga Rudolf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tímea Bencsik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dóra Czégényi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nóra Papp.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Papp, N., Rudolf, K., Bencsik, T. et al. Ethnomycological use of Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. and Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.) P. Karst. in Transylvania, Romania. Genet Resour Crop Evol 64, 101–111 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-015-0335-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-015-0335-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation