With high economic value, A. mellea has been widely distributed in tropical and temperate forests around the world. As an important representative of traditional medicinal and edible fungi in China as an important representative of traditional medicinal and edible fungi in China, it is well known for its medicinal and edible value.
The main active compounds of A. mellea include proto-Ilulane-type sesquiterpenoids, polysaccharides, triterpenes, proteins, sterols, and adenosine.
Study shows that these compounds lie in both hypha and shoestring. In different part, the active compounds content varies. In most cases, the content of most active substances in hypha is higher than that in shoestring. For polysaccharids content, hypha is much lower than that in shoestring. For protein, triterpenes, ergot sterone and ergosterol content, hypha is higher than that in shoestring.