Antioxidant and antitumor activities of selenium- and zinc-enriched oyster mushroom in mice

Bioactivity Profiling of Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolton) J. Schröt. 1888: Implications for Its Possible Application in Enhancing Women's Reproductive Health

This study investigates the bioactivity profile of wood-rotting fungal species Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolton) J. Schröt. 1888, focusing on its antioxidant, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activities and enzyme modulation properties with respect to its possible application in terms of enhancing women's reproductive health. Two types of extracts, including those based on EtOH extraction (DC) and hydrodistillation (DCHD), were investigated. The results indicate that the radical scavenging capacity against the DPPH radical and reduction potential were stronger in the DC extracts owing to the higher total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) (25.30 ± 1.05 mg GAE/g d.w. and 2.84 ± 0.85 mg QE/g d.w., respectively). The same trend was observed in the protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) activity and in the genotoxic activity against the δ virus since only the DC extract exhibited DNA disintegration regarding a dilution of 1:100. Conversely, the DCHD extract exhibited increased hemolytic and cytotoxic effects (339.39% and IC50 = 27.76 ± 0.89 μg/mL-72 h incubation, respectively), along with greater inhibition of the AChE enzyme (IC50 = 3.11 ± 0.45 mg/mL) and hemolytic activity. These results suggest that terpenoids and steroids may be responsible for the observed activity in DCHD as these compounds could potentially be extracted following the HD procedure. This comprehensive bioactivity profiling offers valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of D. confragosa from Serbia and underscores the importance of further investigations for harnessing its pharmacological potential.

Comparative investigation of selenium-enriched Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum as natural sources of selenium supplementation

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human health, but its nutritional supply is insufficient in large parts of the world. Mushrooms can be enriched in selenium and can serve as alternative and natural source of selenium supplementation. In the present study, two common mushroom species (Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum), were enriched with two selenium compounds (selenite and selenate) to test their suitability as natural sources of selenium supplementation. Sharp differences in the the metabolic patterns of the fortified selenium were observed. Selenium was effectively metabolized in P. ostreatus but remained in inorganic form in G. lucidum. However, mushrooms extracts were effective in enhancing selenoprotein expression in cell lines. The present study highlights the importance of employing selenium speciation analysis with an element-selective technique to examine the metabolic products following mushroom fortification for nutritional purposes due to the different toxicological profile and bioavailability of different selenium biotransformation products.

3D-printed tri-element-doped hydroxyapatite/ polycaprolactone composite scaffolds with antibacterial potential for osteosarcoma therapy and bone regeneration

The resection of malignant osteosarcoma often results in large segmental bone defects, and the residual cells can facilitate recurrence. Consequently, the treatment of osteosarcoma is a major challenge in clinical practice. The ideal goal of treatment for osteosarcoma is to eliminate it thoroughly, and repair the resultant bone defects as well as avoid bacterial infections. Herein, we fabricated a selenium/strontium/zinc-doped hydroxyapatite (Se/Sr/Zn-HA) powder by hydrothermal method, and then employed it with polycaprolactone (PCL) as ink to construct composite scaffolds through 3D printing, and finally introduced them in bone defect repair induced by malignant osteosarcoma. The resultant composite scaffolds integrated multiple functions involving anti-tumor, osteogenic, and antibacterial potentials, mainly attributed to the anti-tumor effects of SeO32-, osteogenic effects of Sr2+ and Zn2+, and antibacterial effects of SeO32- and Zn2+. In vitro studies confirmed that Se/Sr/Zn-HA leaching solution could induce apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, differentiation of MSCs, and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 while showing excellent antibacterial properties. In vivo tests demonstrated that Se/Sr/Zn-HA could significantly suppress tumors after 8 days of injection, and the Se/Sr/Zn-HA-PCLs scaffold repaired femoral defects effectively after 3 months of implantation. Summarily, the Se/Sr/Zn-HA-PCLs composite scaffolds developed in this study were effective for tumor treatment, bone defect repair, and post-operative anti-infection, which provided a great potential to be a facile therapeutic material for osteosarcoma resection.

Accumulation of Selected Metal Elements in Fruiting Bodies of Oyster Mushroom

The species Pleurotus ostreatus is a commercially, gastronomically, and biotechnologically important fungus. Its strain variability has been little researched. The study provides an evaluation of 59 oyster mushroom production strains in terms of the ability to accumulate selected metals in the cap and stipe. The fruiting bodies were grown under identical model conditions on straw substrate. Metal concentrations (ET-AAS) in dry fruiting bodies ranged in values 1.7-22.4 mg kg-1 for Al, 2.6-9.7 mg kg-1 Ba, 199-4560 mg kg-1 Ca, 1.7-12.0 mg kg-1 Cu, 12-120 mg kg-1 Fe, 16,000-49,500 mg kg-1 K, 876-2400 mg kg-1 Mg, 0.39-11.0 mg kg-1 Mn, 46-920 mg kg-1 Na and 11-920 mg kg-1 for Zn. More Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Zn accumulated in the cap, while in the stipe Ba was amassed. No significant difference was found between Al, Ca and Na between the accumulation in the cap and the stipe. Furthermore, the dependence of metal uptake from the substrate depending on the fortification of the substrate was confirmed. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) synergistic relationships were shown in pairs Al and Ba, Al and Fe, Ba and Na, Ba and Ca, Ca and Na, Cu and Fe, Fe and Mn, Fe and Zn, K and Mg, K and Mn, K and Zn, Mg and Mn, Mg and Na, Mg and Zn and Mn and Zn in the substrate without the addition of sodium selenate to the substrate. Altered relationships were observed after the application of sodium selenate to the substrate, synergism of Se and Ni, Se and Co and Se and Hg, Cu and Mn, Cu and Fe, Zn and Co, Zn and Ni, Zn and Hg, Mn and Fe, Mn and Cr, Co and Ni, Co and Hg, Ni and Hg, Pb and Cd. The findings of the study may help in the selection of production strains with hypercumulative properties for a particular metal and subsequent use in the addition of fortified fruiting bodies (e.g., with Zn). Based on the study the strains less sensitive to the accumulation of hazardous metals is possible to select for large-scale production, which is important from the perspective of food safety.

Wild mushrooms showed analgesic and cytotoxic properties along with phytoconstituent's binding affinity to COX-1, COX-2 and cytochrome P450 2C9

This study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic and analgesic potential of methanol extracts of five wild mushrooms available in the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The acetic acid-induced writhing method was used for the analgesic activity, while cytotoxicity was tested using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. In silico molecular docking and ADME/T study have been employed by using Schrodinger v11.1, BIOVIA Discovery Studio 2020 and online tool (AdmeSAR) respectively. The methanol extracts of Daldinia concentrica, Trametes lactinea, Fomitopsis cajanderi and Daedaleopsis confragosa exhibited a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the number of writhing when compared to the control group. Except for Lentinus squarrosulus at 200 mg/kg body weight, the remaining mushroom extracts showed equal to or above 50 % inhibition of writhing. Daldinia concentrica showed the lowest LC50 values with 0.63 μg/mL, while Daedaleopsis confragosa showed the highest LC50 values of 2.33 μg/mL, indicating decisive cytotoxic action all mushrooms extracts. Considering the secondary metabolites, daldinan A and fomlactone A were found the most promising myco-compounds in analgesic and cytotoxic molecular docking studies. Besides, all the selected metabolites meet the rule of Lipinski's drug-likeliness. These results concluded that each mushroom extracts except Lentinus squarrosulus possess a potential analgesic. All the mushroom extracts embrace a promising cytotoxic activity that may guide the progress of a new drug.

Effects of Selenium- and Zinc-Enriched Lactobacillus plantarum SeZi on Antioxidant Capacities and Gut Microbiome in an ICR Mouse Model

Selenium and zinc are essential trace minerals for humans with various biological functions. In this study, selenium- and zinc-tolerant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates were screened out from human fecal samples. Amongst three hundred LAB isolates, the Lactobacillus plantarum SeZi strain displayed the tolerance against selenium and zinc with the greatest biomass production and bioaccumulation of selenium and zinc. To further assess the characteristics of this strain, the lyophilized L. plantarum SeZi were prepared and administered to Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. The mice were divided into four groups, provided with normal chow (Con), or normal chow supplemented with Na₂SeO₃ and ZnSO₄∙7H₂O (SZ), L. plantarum SeZi (Lp), or selenium- and zinc-enriched L. plantarum SeZi (SZ + Lp), respectively. After 4 weeks of oral administration, the concentrations of selenium and zinc in blood were significantly increased in the SZ + Lp group when compared to the control or SZ group (p < 0.05). The increased selenium level led to an enhanced glutathione peroxidase activity and decreased blood malondialdehyde level in the SZ + Lp group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the results of bacterial community and microbial metabolic pathway analysis via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that L. plantarum SeZi significantly promoted the utilization of selenocysteine, seleno-cystathionine and seleno-methionine in the selenocompounds metabolism. Here, the in vivo antioxidant capacities of the selenium- and zinc-enriched lactobacillus strain showed us the utilization of a unique probiotic as a Se/Zn supplement with high availability, low toxicity, and additional probiotic advantages.

Selenium and Zinc Biofortification of Pleurotus eryngii Mycelium and Fruiting Bodies as a Tool for Controlling Their Biological Activity

Pleurotus eryngii (DC:Fr.) Quel. is a cultivated mushroom of high culinary value and medicinal properties. Mycelium of P. eryngii is characterized by the ability of effective bio-elements absorption from growth media so it could be biofortified with trace elements with a functional activity in the human body. In this study, the ability of P. eryngii mycelia from in vitro cultures as well as fruiting bodies were investigated in terms of their effectiveness in zinc and selenium accumulation. The effect of Se and Zn biofortification on productivity, chemical compounds, and bio-elements content of P. eryngii was determined as well. To enhance Se and Zn content in P. eryngii fruiting bodies and mycelia, substrates were supplemented with sodium selenite, at a concentration of 50 mg L^-1, zinc sulfate, and zinc hydro-aspartate at a concentration of 87.2 and 100.0 mg L^-1, respectively. Mentioned Zn concentrations contained the same amount of zinc(II) ions, namely 20 mg L^-1. The content of organic compounds include phenolic compounds and lovastatin, which were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method with UV detection. The ability of P. eryngii to accumulate zinc and selenium from the culture medium was demonstrated. The degree of accumulation of zinc turned out to be different depending on the type of salt used. The present study also showed that conducting mycelium of P. eryngii in in vitro culture, with a higher content of zinc ions, can result in obtaining the materials with better antioxidant ability. The results of this study can be used to develop the composition of growing media, which ensures the production of biomass with the desired composition of elements.

The influence of selenium on selected heavy metals cumulation in Oyster mushroom fruiting bodies

Food safety is a very frequent topic. The article deals with the problems of fortification of the most grown mushroom in Slovakia, and the 3rd most grown mushroom in the world, Pleurotus ostreatus. Due to the high environmental pollution of soils and air, there is a risk of the production of dangerous fruiting bodies with high heavy metals content. It is known that these substances can promote serious health effects on human body, such as bone weakness or kidney damages (cadmium) and negative process of cognitive developing (lead). The experiment was focused on biofortification with selenium to reduce the accumulation of selected heavy metals (lead, cadmium) in oyster mushroom, grown with intensive cultivation under artificial conditions. This work confirms that the application of sodium selenate to the growing substrate with straw as the main component can reduce the accumulation of cadmium (by 22.45%) and lead (by 64.81%). Research by various authors reported the ability of the oyster mushroom to embed selenium from the substrate into the fruiting bodies. Based on the results of the experiments, we propose to fortify the growing substrate for the production of oyster mushroom by selenium. This way we produce a food with a high antioxidant potential.

Mycochemical Changes Induced by Selenium Enrichment in P. ostreatus Fruiting Bodies

The effects of selenium enrichment on the biological efficiency, phenolic compounds, amino acid profile, antioxidant capacity, and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) were evaluated in Pleurotus ostreatus fruiting bodies (FB) harvested during three sequential flushes. Sodium selenate was used to reach selenium content of 17.5 or 5.8 mg/kg in the sorghum straw substrate. Biological efficiency and total selenium content increased. One of the main differences among treatments was in ergothioneine content, an indicator of oxidative stress that was positively related with valine and isoleucine contents and negatively related to leucine and phenylalanine. Besides ergothioneine, nucleosides derived from adenine and uracyl were the major peaks observed in all treatments, and coumaric and ferulic acids were found in the bound phenolics extract. Selenium enrichment also affected the antioxidant capacity, and particularly the methanolic extract obtained from the second flush of FB cultivated in selenium-enriched substrate (17.5 mg/kg) had the best CAA.

Bioactivities and Health Benefits of Mushrooms Mainly from China

Many mushrooms have been used as foods and medicines for a long time. Mushrooms contain polyphenols, polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals. Studies show that mushrooms possess various bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic properties, therefore, mushrooms have attracted increasing attention in recent years, and could be developed into functional food or medicines for prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases. The present review summarizes the bioactivities and health benefits of mushrooms, and could be useful for full utilization of mushrooms.

Selenium uptake, tolerance and reduction in Flammulina velutipes supplied with selenite

Recently, selenium (Se) enriched mushrooms have been exploited as dietary Se supplements, but our knowledge of the metabolic process during the Se enrichment process is far from complete. In this study, the uptake, tolerance and reduction of selenite in a widely cultivated mushroom, Flammulina velutipes, was investigated. The results showed that pH variation (from 5.5-7.5), metabolic inhibitor (0.1 mM 2,4-DNP) and P or S starvation led to 11-26% decreases in the selenite uptake rate of F. velutipes. This indicates that a minor portion of the selenite uptake was metabolism dependent, whereas a carrier-facilitated passive transport may be crucial. Growth inhibition of F. velutipes initiated at 0.1 mM selenite (11% decrease in the growth rate) and complete growth inhibition occurred at 3 mM selenite. A selenite concentration of 0.03-0.1 mM was recommended to maintain the balance between mycelium production and Se enrichment. F. velutipes was capable of reducing selenite to elemental Se [Se(0)] including Se(0) nanoparticles, possibly as a detoxification mechanism. This process depended on both selenite concentration and metabolism activity. Overall, the data obtained provided some basic information for the cultivation of the selenized F. velutipes, and highlighted the opportunity of using mushrooms for the production of Se(0) nanoparticles.

Improvement of zinc bioaccumulation and biomass yield in the mycelia and fruiting bodies of Pleurotus florida cultured on liquid media

The effect of different concentrations of zinc on the bioaccumulation of zinc and biomass yield in both mycelium and fruiting body of Pleurotus florida cultivated in liquid medium was studied. The results showed that the optimum yield of mycelia (11.33 ± 0.44 g/L) and fruiting bodies (7.70 ± 0.19 g/L) dry biomass was obtained in a liquid medium containing 100 mg/L of zinc. At a zinc concentration of 200 mg/L, the highest concentration of zinc in the mycelia and fruiting bodies reached 1.869 ± 0.115 and 0.151 ± 0.008 mg/g dry weight, respectively. The addition of zinc to the culture media significantly reduced zinc bioaccumulation factor in mycelia (from 24.64 ± 0.52 to 3.35 ± 0.24) and fruiting bodies (from 36.71 ± 0.30 to 0.49 ± 0.02) dry weight. Our findings indicated that the ability of zinc bioaccumulation in the mycelia is much higher than in the fruiting bodies. The fundamental information obtained in this study will be useful for the improvement of zinc bioaccumulation and biomass yield in mycelia and fruiting bodies of P. florida cultivated in liquid media to obtain maximum zinc-enriched biomass.