Sanghuangporus refers to a group of rare medicinal fungi with remarkable therapeutic properties. However, current knowledge on the bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activities of different species of this genus is limited. In this study, a total of 15 wild strains from 8 species of Sanghuangporus were selected as the experimental materials for identification of the bioactive components (polysaccharide, polyphenol, flavonoid, triterpenoid, and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant activities (scavenging activities against hydroxyl, superoxide, DPPH, and ABTS radicals; superoxide dismutase activity; and ferric reducing ability of plasma). Notably, individual strains contained different levels of various indicators, among which Sanghuangporus baumii Cui 3573, S. sanghuang Cui 14419 and Cui 14441, S. vaninii Dai 9061, and S. zonatus Dai 10841 displayed the strongest activities. The correlation analysis of bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activities revealed that the antioxidant capacity of Sanghuangporus is mainly associated with the contents of flavonoid and ascorbic acid, followed by polyphenol and triterpenoid, and finally, polysaccharide. Together, the results obtained from the comprehensive and systematic comparative analyses contribute further potential resources and critical guidance for the separation, purification, and further development and utilization of bioactive agents from wild Sanghuangporus species, as well as the optimization of their artificial cultivation conditions.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Cotylidia (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) were performed. A phylogenetic estimate based on six genetic markers revealed that Cotylidia in the current sense includes species belonging to three distantly related clades in the Hymenochaetales. Based on morphology, phylogeny, and ecological habitat, the name Cotylidia s.s. is proposed for the first clade, including the type species C. undulata and C. carpatica. Neocotylidia gen. nov. is proposed for the second clade, which includes N. diaphana, N. fibrae, the new species N. bambusicola, and two accessions recorded as Cotylidia aurantiaca var. alba and C. aurantiaca. Contrary to the findings in earlier studies, C. pannosa demonstrated a weak grouping affinity with Globulicium hiemale, Hastodontia hastata, Atheloderma mirabile, Tsugacorticium kenaicum, Lawrynomyces capitatus, and Lyoathelia laxa. The morphological characteristics of Cotylidia s.s. are restricted to species with hymenial cystidia, pileocystidia, and caulocystidia, as well as a muscicolous habitat. Neocotylidia species differ from Cotylidia s.s. in the lack of pileocystidia and caulocystidia and substrate preference for soil or wood. Illustrated descriptions of the new species and genus, as well as an identification key to the worldwide species of Cotylidia s.l. are provided.