Comparison of multielemental composition of Polish and Chinese mushrooms (Ganoderma spp.)

Ganoderma pfeifferi Bres. and Ganoderma resinaceum Boud. as Potential Therapeutic Agents: A Comparative Study on Antiproliferative and Lipid-Lowering Properties

Medicinal mushrooms, especially Ganoderma species, hold immense promise for the production of a wide range of bioactive compounds with various effects. The biochemical potential of indigenous fungal strains, specific to a region, could play a critical role in the continuous search for novel strains with superior activities on a global scale. This research focused on the ethanolic (EtOH) and hot-water (H2O) extracts of fruiting bodies of two wild-growing Ganoderma species: G. pfeifferi and G. resinaceum, with the aim of assessing their nutritional (total carbohydrate content-TCC) and mineral composition in relation to bioactive properties: antioxidant, antiproliferative and lipid-lowering. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) revealed that G. pfeifferi is a promising source of minerals that are essential for numerous physiological functions in the human body like bone health and muscle and nerve function, with Ca (4.55 ± 0.41 mg/g d.w.) and Mg (1.33 ± 0.09 mg/g d.w.) being the most abundant macroelement present. Zn, Mn, and Cr were particularly notable, with concentrations ranging from 21.49 to 41.70 mg/kg d.w. The EtOH extract of G. pfeifferi demonstrated significantly elevated levels of TCC, essential macromolecules for energy and structural functions in the body, with higher quantities of all three standard carbohydrates detected in this type of extract. Similar to the revealed composition, the same species, G. pfeifferi, stood out as the most prominent antioxidant agent, with the H2O extract being stronger than EtOH in the ABTS assay (86.85 ± 0.67 mg TE/g d.w.), while the EtOH extract displayed the highest anti-OH• scavenging ability (IC50 = 0.18 ± 0.05 μg/mL) as well as the most notable reducing potential among all. The highest antiproliferative effect against the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), were demonstrated by the H2O extracts from G. resinaceum with the most pronounced activity after 24 h (IC50 = 4.88 ± 0.50 μg/mL), which surpasses that of the standard compound, ellagic acid (IC50 = 33.94 ± 3.69 μg/mL). Administration of both Ganoderma extracts mitigated diabetic lipid disturbances and exhibited potential renal and hepatic protection in vivo on white Wistar rats by the preservation of kidney function parameters in G. resinaceum H2O pre-treatment (urea: 6.27 ± 0.64 mmol/L, creatinine: 50.00 ± 6.45 mmol/L) and the reduction in ALT levels (17.83 ± 3.25 U/L) compared to diabetic control groups treated with saline (urea: 46.98 ± 6.01 mmol/L, creatinine: 289.25 ± 73.87 mmol/L, and ALT: 60.17 ± 9.64 U/L). These results suggest that pre-treatment with G. resinaceum H2O extracts may have potential antidiabetic properties. In summary, detected microelements are vital for maintaining overall health, supporting metabolic processes, and protecting against various chronic diseases. Further research and dietary assessments could help determine the full potential and applications of the two underexplored Ganoderma species native to Serbia in nutrition and health supplements.

Physiological Activity of Trace Element Germanium including Anticancer Properties

Germanium is an essential microelement, and its deficiency can result in numerous diseases, particularly oncogenic conditions. Consequently, water-soluble germanium compounds, including inorganic and coordination compounds, have attracted significant attention due to their biological activity. The review analyzes the primary research from the last decade related to the anticancer activity of germanium compounds. Furthermore, the review clarifies their actual toxicity, identifies errors and misconceptions that have contributed to the discrediting of their biological activity, and briefly suggests a putative mechanism of germanium-mediated protection from oxidative stress. Finally, the review provides clarifications on the discovery history of water-soluble organic germanium compounds, which was distorted and suppressed for a long time.

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) an edible mushroom; a comprehensive and critical review of its nutritional, cosmeceutical, mycochemical, pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological properties

Reishi owes an exceptional value in nutritional, cosmeceutical, and medical treatments; however, none of the studies has provided its future-driven critical assessment. This study documents an up-to-date review (2015-2020, wherever applicable) and provide valuable insights (preclinical and clinical evidence-based) with comprehensive and critical assessments. Various databases 'Google scholar', 'Web of Science', 'ScienceDirect', 'PubMed', 'Springer Link', books, theses, and library resources were used. The taxonomic chaos of G. lucidum and its related species was discussed in detail with solution-oriented emphasis. Reishi contains polysaccharides (α/β-D-glucans), alkaloids, triterpenoids (ganoderic acids, ganoderenic acids, ganoderol, ganoderiol, lucidenic acids), sterols/ergosterol, proteins (LZ-8, LZ-9), nucleosides (adenosine, inosine, uridine), and nucleotides (guanine, adenine). Some active drugs are explored at an optimum level to make them potential drug candidates. The pharmacological potential was observed in diabetes, inflammation, epilepsy, neurodegeneration, cancer, anxiety, sedation, cardiac diseases, depression, hepatic diseases, and immune disorders; however, most of the studies are preclinical with a number of drawbacks. In particular, quality clinical data are intensely needed to support pharmacological activities for human use. The presence of numerous micro-, macro, and trace elements imparts an essential nutritional and cosmeceutical value to Reishi, and various marketed products are available already, but the clinical studies regarding safety and efficacy, interactions with foods/drinks, chronic use, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity are missing for Reishi. Reishi possesses many valuable pharmacological activities, and the number of patents and clinical trials is increasing for Reishi. Yet, a gap in research exists for Reishi, which is discussed in detail in the forthcoming sections.

Mercury in traditionally foraged species of fungi (macromycetes) from the karst area across Yunnan province in China

The objective of this study is to better quantify the occurrence, intake, and potential risk from Hg in fungi traditionally foraged in SW China. The concentrations and intakes of Hg were measured from 42 species including a "hard" flesh type polypore fungi and a" soft" flesh type edible species that are used in traditional herbal medicine, collected during the period 2011-2017. Three profiles of forest topsoil from the Zhenyuan site in 2015 and Changning and Dulong sites in 2016 were also investigated. The concentrations of Hg in composite samples of polypore fungi were usually below 0.1 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw) but higher levels, 0.11 ± 0.01 and 0.24 ± 0.00 mg kg-1 dw, were noted in Ganoderma applanatum and Amauroderma niger respectively, both from the Nujiang site near the town of Lanping in NW Yunnan. Hg concentrations in Boletaceae species were usually well above 1.0 mg kg-1 dw and as high as 10 mg kg-1 dw. The quality of the mushrooms in this study in view of contamination with Hg showed a complex picture. The "worst case" estimations showed probable intake of Hg from 0.006 μg kg-1 body mass (bm) ("hard" type flesh) to 0.25 μg kg-1 bm ("soft" flesh) on a daily basis for capsulated products, from 17 to 83 μg kg-1 bm ("soft" flesh) in a meal ("hard" type flesh mushrooms are not cooked while used in traditional herbal medicine after processing), and from 0.042 to 1.7 and 120 to 580 μg kg-1 bm on a weekly basis, respectively. KEY POINTS: • Polypore species were slightly contaminated with Hg. • Hg maximal content in the polypore was < 0.25 mg kg-1 dry weight. • Many species from Boletaceae family in Yunnan showed elevated Hg. • Locals who often eat Boletus may take Hg at a dose above the daily reference dose.

Proximate composition and element contents of selected species of Ganoderma with reference to dietary intakes

Ganoderma is a wood-degrading mushroom that is treasured as a functional food since primitive times. Monitoring of macronutrient and element levels in mushrooms collected from the natural environment provides basic information in terms of safety, regulation, and nutrition. A comparative study was developed on the proximate and element contents of Ganoderma applanatum, G. brownii, G. lucidum, and G. philippii collected from different zones of the natural forests in Uttarakhand, India. These mushrooms revealed high amounts of proteins (9.29-12.4%) and carbohydrates (75.5-80.3%) and low contents of fats (1.62-2.87%), but ash (6.14-8.32%) and fibre (4.92-8.07%) were available in significant amounts. Element concentrations were determined by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry. Calcium (5400-19,250 mg/kg) and potassium (2602-5601 mg/kg) were the predominant elements in mushrooms. The mushroom samples provided significant percentage contribution to reference recommended dietary intakes (RDIs) of essential elements such as calcium (27.0-96.3%), copper (58.2-95.8%), and manganese (37.3-62.3%), for adult males and females; and iron (35.3-97.1% for males and 28.6-78.6% for females), magnesium (7.06-11.5% for males and 7.74-12.6% for females), and zinc (6.35-19.8% for males and 7.65-23.7% for females). The studied mushrooms have no health risks as toxic metals such as aluminium and lead were detected below the legislated respective provisional tolerable intake values. Nutritional quality index (NQI) values revealed that mushrooms are densely rich in calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc.

Worldwide basket survey of multielemental composition of white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Agaricus bisporus is the most commonly cultivated and consumed mushroom species. The aim of this study was to compare the profile of macro- and trace elements in A. bisporus fruit bodies produced commercially in 19 countries in 2018 and distributed worldwide (32 analyzed objects). Trace elements with unknown biological roles were also determined. The content of 36 elements (of 70 taken into account) revealed significant differences among the analyzed objects. Contents of Ca, K, Mg, Na and S varied in wide ranges of 425-2430, 12740-40940, 610-3240, 98-430 and 1030-2650 mg kg^-1 dw, respectively. The fruit bodies were characterized by a generally similar content of trace elements with some clear exceptions. Rankings of the objects according to the decreased amount of macroelements, trace elements and all elements jointly, show that mushrooms are significantly diverse as regards the content of particular elements of the mentioned group. The analyzed fruit bodies displayed a relatively high content of Ca, Mo and Se, and a high K/Na ratio. Regardless of origin, A. bisporus did not constitute a source of significant levels of Al, Cd or rare earth elements. An increased level of As and Pb in mushrooms from several producers indicates a need for additional measures to reduce potential dietary exposures to these toxicants.

Improved production of polysaccharides in Ganoderma lingzhi mycelia by plasma mutagenesis and rapid screening of mutated strains through infrared spectroscopy

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Ganoderma lingzhi has attracted increasing attention for both scientific research and medical application. In this work, in order to improve the production of polysaccharides from an original wide-type (WT) strain (named "RWY-0") of Ganoderma lingzhi, we applied atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nonthermal plasma to the protoplasts of RWY-0 for mutagenesis treatment. Through a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay, at least 10 mutagenic strains were confirmed. They also showed different mycelium characteristics in terms of shape, color, size and biomass in liquid fermentation. The mutant strains were examined by infrared spectroscopy, and based on the established near-infrared (NIR) quantification model, the polysaccharide contents in these mutants were quantitatively evaluated. As a result, we found that the Ganoderma polysaccharide contents in some of the mutant strains were significantly changed compared with that of the original WT strain. The polysaccharide content of RWY-1 G. lingzhi was considerably higher than that of the WT strain, with an increase of 25.6%. Thus, this preliminary work demonstrates the extension of the plasma mutagenesis application in acquiring polysaccharide-enhanced Ganoderma lingzhi mutants and shows the usefulness of NIR spectroscopy in the rapid screening of mutagenic strains for other important ingredients.