ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) are the most established forms of ethnic medicine in Asia. Ascomycetous genera Cordyceps and Xylaria are commonly used in traditional Chinese, Tibetan and Indian medicines. Nine species of Xylaria including X. nigripes were found in termite mounds of O. formosanus in Taiwan. Xylaria nigripies is a rich source of amino acids and the most exciting amino acid in this medical mushroom is gamma-aminobutyric acid. Xylaria polymorpha is common and widespread near the base of rotting stumps. Xylaria polymorpha contains about 6 per cent mannitol, a sugar used as a diuretic agent. Xylarinic acids were purified from the fruit bodies of X. polymorpha collected from Gwangneung Forest in Gyeonggi province of Korea.
