Structural elucidation of a 3-O-methyl-d-galactose-containing neutral polysaccharide from the fruiting bodies of Phellinus igniarius

O-Methylated mannogalactan from the microalga Coccomyxa mucigena, symbiotic partner of the lichenized fungus Peltigera aphthosa

A structural study of the carbohydrates from Coccomyxa mucigena, the symbiotic algal partner of the lichenized fungus Peltigera aphthosa, was carried out. It produced an O-methylated mannogalactan, with a (1-->6)-linked beta-galactopyranose main-chain partially substituted at O-3 by beta-Galp, 3-OMe-alpha-Manp or alpha-Manp units. There were no similarities with polysaccharides previously found in the lichen thallus of P. aphthosa. Moreover, the influence of lichenization in polysaccharide production by symbiotic microalgae and the nature of the photobiont in carbohydrate production in lichen symbiosis are also discussed.

Current advances in Phellinus sensu lato: medicinal species, functions, metabolites and mechanisms

Twenty-six species of Phellinus sensu lato, reported as medicinal mushrooms, are enumerated in this review. The species' names were checked and revised according to contemporary taxonomy and the latest version of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna Code); two misapplied names of Phellinus baumii Pilát and Phellinus himalayensis Y.C. Dai in previous reports are also discussed. Of the 20 types of medicinal functions, the most shared functions are antitumor and improving immunity, both of which may be viewed as the basal functions of Phellinus s. l. In addition, alleviating septic shock, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidation are also a routine functions mentioned often. The main medicinal metabolites, including several kinds of polysaccharides and polyphenols, are introduced. Different methods and conditions could purify various polysaccharides with difference in activity level even from the same species, while all polyphenols are hispidin and its derivatives in general. Three aspects of mechanism contribute to antitumor activities of polysaccharides: (1) promoting an immune response, (2) inducing cell apoptosis, and (3) inhibiting metastasis. Other general mechanisms of the metabolites in antioxidant activity, and in treating diabetes, as well as complications are summarized. We also elaborate on potential scientific strategies for obtaining the medicinal metabolites from Phellinus s. l., such as artificial cultivation, the discoveries of more species with medicinal functions, the utilization of species growing quickly, and the optimization of culture conditions and media supplements in fermentation.

Purification, characterization and immuno-modulating properties of polysaccharides isolated from Flammulina velutipes mycelium

To investigate the immuno-modulating activity of Flammulina velutipes mycelium, three different Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides (FVPs) were isolated by fractionation using gel filtration and were identified as the immunomodulators of murine peritoneal macrophages. Based on the results of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrogram (GC-MS), FVP2C was identified as glucose, galactose, mannose and fucose in molar ratio of 100: 14: 7: 4. FVP2C, molecular weight of 27.3 x 10(3) Da, was characterized as alpha-D-(1-->4)-glucan which was highly branched with alpha-D-(1-->6)-glucosyl residues, a single galactose or small amounts of mannoses and fucose at the C-6 position every twelve residues, on average, along the main chain. In the present study, it was found that three FVPs induced a significant increase in cellular nitric oxide formation, interleukin-1 production and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in macrophages in vitro. The immuno-modulating activity of FVP2A, FVP2B and FVP2C was dose-dependent.