Antioxidant and anti-tumour activity of triterpenoid compounds isolated from Morchella mycelium

Safe Production Strategies for Soil-Covered Cultivation of Morel in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils

Morel is a popular edible mushroom with considerable medicinal and economic value which has garnered global popularity. However, the increasing heavy metal (HM) pollution in the soil presents a significant challenge to morels cultivation. Given the susceptibility of morels to HM accumulation, the quality and output of morels are at risk, posing a serious food safety concern that hinders the development of the morel industry. Nonetheless, research on the mechanism of HM enrichment and mitigation strategies in morel remains scarce. The morel, being cultivated in soil, shows a positive correlation between HM content in its fruiting body and the HM content in the soil. Therefore, soil remediation emerges as the most practical and effective approach to tackle HM pollution. Compared to physical and chemical remediation, bioremediation is a low-cost and eco-friendly approach that poses minimal threats to soil composition and structure. HMs easily enriched during morels cultivation were examined, including Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb, and we assessed soil passivation technology, microbial remediation, strain screening and cultivation, and agronomic measures as potential approaches for HM pollution prevention. The current review underscores the importance of establishing a comprehensive system for preventing HM pollution in morels.

Characterization and Genome Analysis of Cladobotryum mycophilum, the Causal Agent of Cobweb Disease of Morchella sextelata in China

Cobweb disease is a fungal disease that can cause serious damage to edible mushrooms worldwide. To investigate cobweb disease in Morchella sextelata in Guizhou Province, China, we isolated and purified the pathogen responsible for the disease. Through morphological and molecular identification and pathogenicity testing on infected M. sextelata, we identified Cladobotryum mycophilum as the cause of cobweb disease in this region. This is the first known occurrence of this pathogen causing cobweb disease in M. sextelata anywhere in the world. We then obtained the genome of C. mycophilum BJWN07 using the HiFi sequencing platform, resulting in a high-quality genome assembly with a size of 38.56 Mb, 10 contigs, and a GC content of 47.84%. We annotated 8428 protein-coding genes in the genome, including many secreted proteins, host interaction-related genes, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) related to the pathogenesis of the disease. Our findings shed new light on the pathogenesis of C. mycophilum and provide a theoretical basis for developing potential prevention and control strategies for cobweb disease.

Investigation of Three Morchella Species for Anticancer Activity Against Colon Cancer Cell Lines by UPLC-MS-Based Chemical Analysis

In search of new anticancer agents, natural products including fungal compounds had been used as potential anticancer agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer activity of Morchella extracts against colon cancer cell line and UPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis for the identification of compounds. The cytotoxic activity of the three Morchella species was examined for their anti-carcinogenic properties against the colon cancer cell lines. Phytochemical analyses were performed to screen Morchella for the presence of anti-cancerous compounds. All the fungal extracts inhibited the viability of colon cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Major compounds identified in Morchella included amino acid, fatty acid, sterol, flavonoid, peptide, glutamic acid, alkaloid, terpenoid, cyclopyrrolones, and coumarin. Several new compounds were detected among all the three Morchella extracts. In conclusion, all the fungal extracts showed potential inhibition of colon cancer cells and actively arrested the cell viability. It was concluded that the identified bioactive compounds might be the main constituents contributing to the anticancer activity of Morchella against human colon cancer cell lines. Thus, Morchella extracts are a potential source of bioactive compounds with cytotoxicity and could potentially be used as functional food supplements. Due to the nature of impressive findings, this investigation should be undertaken further to allow the studies to explore and develop a potential cytotoxic agents against colon cancer.

Food and Antioxidant Supplements with Therapeutic Properties of Morchella esculenta (Ascomycetes): A Review

Morchella esculenta, commonly known as yellow morels, is an edible and medicinal mushroom popular worldwide for its unique flavor and culinary purposes. The traditional medical system effectively uses morels against infertility, fatigue, cancer, muscular pain, cough, and cold. The M. esculenta possesses many health-promoting nutritional components such as mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, protein hydrolysates, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. The potential medicinal properties of morels is due to polysaccharides (galactomannan, chitin, β-glucans, and β-1,3-1,6-glucan) present that has high economic importance worldwide. Polysaccharides present possess a broad spectrum of biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant. However, the toxicity and clinical trials to prove its safety and efficacy for medicinal uses are yet to be evaluated. Moreover, the separation, purification, identification, and structural elucidation of active compounds responsible for the unique flavors and biological activities are still lacking in M. esculenta. The available information provides a new base for future perspectives. It highlights the need for further studies of this potent medicinal mushroom species as a source of beneficial therapeutic drugs and nutraceutical supplements.

Maximum Entropy Modeling the Distribution Area of Morchella Dill. ex Pers. Species in China under Changing Climate

Morchella is a kind of precious edible, medicinal fungi with a series of important effects, including anti-tumor and anti-oxidation effects. Based on the data of 18 environmental variables and the distribution sites of wild Morchella species, this study used a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to predict the changes in the geographic distribution of Morchella species in different historical periods (the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Mid Holocene (MH), current, 2050s and 2070s). The results revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of the receiver operating characteristic curves of different periods were all relatively high (>0.83), indicating that the results of the maximum entropy model are good. Species distribution modeling showed that the major factors influencing the geographical distribution of Morchella species were the precipitation of the driest quarter (Bio17), elevation, the mean temperature of the coldest quarter (Bio11) and the annual mean temperature (Bio1). The simulation of geographic distribution suggested that the current suitable habitat of Morchella was mainly located in Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and other provinces in China. Compared with current times, the suitable area in Northwest and Northeast China decreased in the LGM and MH periods. As for the future periods, the suitable habitats all increased under the different scenarios compared with those in contemporary times, showing a trend of expansion to Northeast and Northwest China. These results could provide a theoretical basis for the protection, rational exploitation and utilization of wild Morchella resources under scenarios of climate change.

Morchella importuna Polysaccharides Alleviate Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Oxidative Injury in Mice

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Morchella importuna polysaccharides (MIPs) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in mice. A total of 144 female mice were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, namely, control, CCl4, low-dose MIP (LMIP) group, and high-dose MIP (HMIP) group. After the 10-day experiment, serum and liver were sampled for biochemical and metabolomic analyses. The HMIPs markedly decreased the liver weight under CCl4 intoxication. Furthermore, the significantly elevated concentrations of five serum biochemical parameters, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and total bile acid under CCl4 treatment were subverted by MIP administration in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, MIPs relieved the increased hepatic malonaldehyde and protein carbonyl content and the decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase contents caused by CCl4 intoxication. There was also a dose-dependent decrease in the CCl4-induced inflammatory indices, such as the levels of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and myeloperoxidase, with MIP administration. Subsequent ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based serum metabolomics identified nine metabolites between the control and CCl4 groups and 10 metabolites between the HMIP and CCl4 groups, including some critical metabolites involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and toxicant degradation. These novel findings indicate that MIPs may be of therapeutic value in alleviating the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by CCl4. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics provides a valuable opportunity for identifying potential biomarkers and elucidating the protective mechanisms of medicinal mushrooms against hepatic oxidative injury.

Temozolomide-Induced Changes in Gut Microbial Composition in a Mouse Model of Brain Glioma

Background

Gut microbiota is associated with the progression of brain tumors. However, the alterations in gut microbiota observed during glioma growth and temozolomide (TMZ) therapy remain poorly understood.

Methods

C57BL/6 male mice were implanted with GL261 glioma cells. TMZ/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCC) was administered through gavage for five consecutive days (from 8 to 12 days after implantation). Fecal samples were collected before (T0) and on days 7 (T1), 14 (T2), and 28 (T3) after implantation. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing followed by absolute and relative quantitation analyses.

Results

Nineteen genera were altered during glioma progression with the most dramatic changes in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla. During glioma growth, Lactobacillus abundance decreased in the early stage (T1) and then gradually increased (T2, T3); Intestinimonas abundance exhibited a persistent increase; Anaerotruncus showed a transient increase (T2) and then a subsequent decrease (T3). Similar longitudinal changes in Intestinimonas and Anaerotruncus abundance were observed in TMZ-treated mice, but the decrease of Anaerotruncus at T3 in the TMZ-treated group was less than that in the vehicle-treated group. No significant change in Lactobacillus was observed after TMZ treatment. Additionally, compared to vehicle control, TMZ treatment led to an enrichment in Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium.

Conclusion

Glioma development and progression altered the composition of gut microbiota. Induction of Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium as well as the prevention of the reduction in Anaerotruncus may contribute to the anti-tumor effect of TMZ. This study helps to reveal the association between levels of specific microbial species in the gut and the anti-tumor effect of TMZ.

Investigation on mycelial growth requirements of Cantharellus cibarius under laboratory conditions

The golden chanterelle represents one of the commonly found, edible mushrooms that is highly valued in various cuisines. The present study focused on assessing the requirements of Cantharellus cibarius such as pH, temperature, as well as the carbon and nitrogen sources for mycelial growth. Optimization of the growth parameters was carried out by one-factor-at-a-time method. The optimal pH and temperature were determined to be 6.0 and 22.5 °C, respectively. Among the various carbon sources studied, sucrose at a concentration of 2% gave maximum mycelial growth and proved to be the most suitable one. Amongst the nitrogen sources studied, peptone, ammonium sulphate, and sodium nitrate, gave the maximum mycelial growth at an optimized concentration of 0.5%. In the presence of beef extract and yeast extract, a change in colony pigmentation from yellow to dark grey was observed. Finally, the carbon to nitrogen ratio of 2:0.5 proved to be optimal for mycelial growth. This study is the first report on the optimisation of in vitro growth requirements of C. cibarius.