Objective   Effects and optimal amounts of branches and/or leaves of Cinnamomum bodinieri added in culture substrate on the growth and physiochemical characteristics of Antrodia cinnamomea were determined.

  Method  The growth characteristics, biomass, SOD activity and total triterpenes (TT) content of A. cinnamomea were compared and analyzed when the young branches, leaves, both branches and leaves of C. bodinieri was added with mass concentration of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 g·L⁻¹ in PDA medium.

  Result  When various concentrations of C. bodinieri young branches 0.5–4 g·L⁻¹, 2–8 g·L⁻¹, 1–4 g·L⁻¹and 4–16 g·L⁻¹ were added to the PDA medium, the growth, biomass, SOD activity, and TT content of A. cinnamomea were significantly higher than those of control without the addition. With 1–2 g·L⁻¹ added leaves in the substrate, A. cinnamomea grew well with an increased SOD activity; while at 2–4 g·L⁻¹, raised biomass and TT content. By adding both branches and leaves at 2–4 g·L⁻¹, 1–4 g·L⁻¹, 0.125–1 g·L⁻¹ and 4–8 g·L⁻¹, the mushroom growth could be improved with increases on biomass, SOD activity, and TT content.

  Conclusion  The results showed that, in general, the mycelium, biomass, SOD activity and total triterpene content of A.cinnammomea were increased by adding C. bodinieri in PDA mediu. Among them, 2 g·L⁻¹ C. bodinieri young leaves significantly increased mycelium and biomassm. C.bodinieri young branches 1 g·L⁻¹or leaves 2 g·L⁻¹, the promotion effect of SOD activity in mycelium was the most significant. The 8 g·L⁻¹ branches of C. bodinieri had the most significant promoting effect on the total triterpenoid content of mycelium, reaching 23.73 mg·g⁻¹, which was increased by 81.77% compared with the control group. This result is a supplement to the culture of A. cinnammomea , and provided a theoretical basis for the large-scale production, development and utilization of A. cinnammomea.