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We have surveyed the variation of physical and chemical characteristics of aerobic and anaerobic outdoor fermentation of cotton wastes using for oyster mushroom cultivation. The inner temperature of cotton wastes fermented aerobically covered with thin cloth and setting pallet at bottom was higher than that of anaerobic fermented cotton wastes covered with P.E vinyl and the maximum temperature was at 5th day after fermentation. pH of cotton wastes fermented aerobically was increased up to 8.9 after fermentation of days, but that of anaerobically fermented was decreased up to 5.0. Total carbon content was decreased but total nitrogen content was increased when fermentation was in progress. Oxygen concentration of cotton wastes fermented aerobically was decreased until 6 days after fermentation but increased after 9 days of fermentation. Ammonia concentration of cotton wastes fermented aerobically and anaerobically was below 10 ppm and respectively. In anaerobic condition the cotton wastes was contaminated with mold (), where no contamination was found in aerobic condition during spawn running stage. Yields of mushroom grown on cotton wastes aerobically fermented for days was per area.

The wild edible mushroom, Lentinus lepideus has recently been cultivated for commercial use in Korea. While the mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes, the possible anti-hyperlipidemic action is unclear. The effects of dietary L. lepideus on plasma and feces biochemical and on the liver histological status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Biochemical and histological examinations were performed. A diet containing 5% L. lepideus fruiting bodies reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total lipid, phospholipids, and the ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein. Body weight was reduced. The diet did not adversely affect plasma biochemical and enzyme profiles. L. lepideus reduced significantly plasma β- and pre-β-lipoprotein, while α-lipoprotein content was increased. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. The present study suggests that a diet supplemented with L. lepideus can provide health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.