Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf

Preparation, structure and application of polysaccharides from Poria cocos

Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCPs) are fungal polysaccharides derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Poria cocos. They are considered an important active ingredient for their pharmacological activity. Herein, the extraction, separation and purification, structure, and application of PCPs are reviewed. Additional research is necessary to fully understand the advanced structure of PCPs, which has implications for their structure-activity relationship. Their application mostly involves the medical industry, with less involvement in other fields. This article highlights the current research status on PCPs in the above-mentioned areas and some problems that need to be solved in future research. Additionally, it points the way for further studies on PCPs in the hopes that they will be more widely and realistically used in various industries.

Study on the underlying mechanism of Poria in intervention of arrhythmia zebrafish by integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Poria is an herb with both medicinal and dietary application. It has been used in various traditional Chinese patent medicines and medicinal decoctions for the treatment of arrhythmia. However, the specific mechanisms involved in the antiarrhythmic effects of Poria have, until now, remained unknown.

PURPOSE

This present study sought to explore the potential compounds and mechanisms by which Poria ameliorates BaCl2-induced arrhythmia.

METHOD

We initiated by using network pharmacology to predict probable components, targets, and associated signaling pathways before optimizing the extraction process of Poria. We then applied Poria extract to a zebrafish model of BaCl2-induced arrhythmia. We combined network pharmacology and untargeted metabolomic analysis to predict the likely signaling and metabolic pathways governed by Poria. Finally, we verified putative mRNA and metabolite targets of Poria involved in the intervention of arrhythmia by PCR, molecular docking, enzymatic inhibition and targeted metabolomics.

RESULTS

We found that triterpenoids may be the main components of Poria responsible for its effects on arrhythmia, and that the optimal extraction process for its water extract is 9 volumes of water with the 7.5 h first extraction period, and the second extraction period of 1.5 h. Through experimentation, we have found that the water extract of Poria can interfere with BaCl2 induced arrhythmia in zebrafish by significantly increasing the heart rate, reducing the SV-BA distance, and pericardial area, and the degree of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in zebrafish. In addition, PCR validation revealed that Poria can regulate the calcium signaling pathway by upregulating the gene expression levels of ADRB1, HTR7, CALMB1, and PPP3CA. Meanwhile, through molecular docking and enzyme activity inhibition, it was found that the compounds in Poria can bind to ADRB1, HTR7, CALMB1, and PPP3CA, respectively. Targeted metabolism confirmed that Poria can downregulate the synthesis of cAMP in the calcium signaling pathway, as well as the synthesis of valine and isoleucine in valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our study indicates that Poria exerts its antiarrhythmic effect through regulating the calcium signaling pathway and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis. Our findings not only establish a mechanistic framework for elucidating the antiarrhythmic effects of Chinese patent medicine containing Poria, but also provide a medicinal basis for the study of its dual use as medicine and food.

Poria cocos Lanostane Triterpenoids Extract Promotes Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid Production in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Rats

The global aging population is expanding at an increasingly rapid pace, with approximately one-fourth of the world's population expected to be composed of elderly individuals by 2050. Aging skin is one of the major characteristics expressed in the elderly. The study comprehensively utilizes both cell and animal experiments to confirm the skin anti-aging effects of Poria cocos (P. cocos), which is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines classified as tonic Chinese medicine, commonly used to treat physical weakness and aging-associated diseases. We demonstrate in this study that P. cocos lanostane triterpenoids extract (Lipucan®) ameliorates aging skin and promotes collagen accumulation and hyaluronic acid production in galactose-induced aging rats. Purified lanostane triterpenoids were initially identified as active components in P. cocos, which significantly increased collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in cultured human skin cells.

Acid-induced Poria cocos alkali-soluble polysaccharide hydrogel: Gelation behaviour, characteristics, and potential application in drug delivery

Poria cocos alkali-soluble polysaccharide (PCAP), a water-insoluble β-glucan, is the main component of the total dried sclerotia of Poria cocos. However, its gelation behaviour and properties have yet to be comprehensively studied. In this study, an acid-induced physical hydrogel based on natural PCAP is fabricated. The acid-induced gelation in PCAP is explored with respect to the pH and polysaccharide concentration. PCAP hydrogels are formed in the pH range of 0.3-10.5, and the lowest gelation concentration is 0.4 wt%. Furthermore, dynamic rheological, fluorescence, and cyclic voltammetry measurements are performed to elucidate the gelation mechanism. The results reveal that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions play a dominant role in gel formation. Subsequently, the properties of the PCAP hydrogels are investigated using rheological measurements, scanning electron microscopy, gravimetric analysis, free radical scavenging, MTT assays, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The PCAP hydrogels exhibit a porous network structure and cytocompatibility, in addition to good viscoelastic, thixotropic, water-holding, swelling, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, using rhein as a model drug for encapsulation, it is demonstrated that its cumulative release behaviour from the PCAP hydrogel is pH dependent. These results indicate the potential of PCAP hydrogels for application in biological medicine and drug delivery.

Pharmacological profiles and therapeutic applications of pachymic acid (Review)

Poria cocos is a saprophytic fungus that grows in diverse species of Pinus. Its sclerotium, called fu-ling or hoelen, has been used in various traditional Chinese medicines and health foods for thousands of years, and in several modern proprietary traditional Chinese medicinal products. It has extensive clinical indications, including sedative, diuretic, and tonic effects. Pachymic acid (PA) is the main lanostane-type triterpenoid in Poria cocos. Evidence suggests that PA has various biological properties such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antiviral, antibacterial, sedative-hypnotic, and anti-ischemia/reperfusion activities. Although considerable advancements have been made, some fundamental and intricate issues remain unclear, such as the underlying mechanisms of PA. The present study aimed to summarize the biological properties and therapeutic potential of PA. The biosynthetic, pharmacokinetic, and metabolic pathways of PA, and its underlying mechanisms were also comprehensively summarized.

The Traditional Usages, Chemical Components and Pharmacological Activities of Wolfiporia cocos: A Review

As an endemic species,Wolfiporia cocos (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb. is widely distributed, such as in China, Korea, Japan, and North America, which have had a dual-purpose resource for medicines and food for over 2000 years. The applications of W. cocos were used to treat diseases including edema, insomnia, spleen deficiency, and vomiting. What's more, there have been wide uses of such edible fungi as a function food or dietary supplement recently. Up until now, 166 kinds of chemical components have been isolated and identified from W. cocos including triterpenes, polysaccharides, sterols, diterpenes, and others. Modern pharmacological studies showed that the components hold a wide range of pharmacological activities both in vitro and in vivo, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-oxidant, and antidepressant activities. In addition, present results showed that the mechanisms of pharmacological activities were closely related to chemical structures, molecular signaling paths and the expression of relate proteins for polysaccharides and triterpenes. For further in-depth studies on this fungus based on the recent research status, this review provided some perspectives and systematic summaries of W. cocos in traditional uses, chemical components, pharmacological activities, separation and analysis technologies, and structure-activity relationships.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Four Triterpenoids Isolated from Poriae Cutis

In this study, triterpenoid compounds from Poriae Cutis were separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of the purified triterpenoids on RAW 264.7 cells were also investigated. Triterpenoids, poricoic acid B, poricoic acid A, dehydrotrametenolic acid, and dehydroeburicoic acid were obtained; their levels of purity were 90%, 92%, 93%, and 96%, respectively. The results indicated that poricoic acid B had higher anti-inflammatory activity than those of poricoic acid A by inhibiting the generation of NO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. However, dehydrotrametenolic acid and dehydroeburicoic acid had no anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, the production of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in cells treated with poricoic acid B decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the concentration range from 10 to 40 μg/mL. The results provide evidence for the use of Poriae Cutis as a natural anti-inflammatory agent in medicines and functional foods.

Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress as Mechanism of Reducing Hyperuricemia of Gardenia jasminoides-Poria cocos with Network Pharmacology

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disease, closely related to oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, caused by reduced excretion or increased production of uric acid. However, the existing therapeutic drugs have many side effects. It is imperative to find a drug or an alternative medicine to effectively control HUA. It was reported that Gardenia jasminoides and Poria cocos could reduce the level of uric acid in hyperuricemic rats through the inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity. But there were few studies on its mechanism. Therefore, the effective ingredients in G. jasminoides and P. cocoa extracts (GPE), the active target sites, and the further potential mechanisms were studied by LC-/MS/MS, molecular docking, and network pharmacology, combined with the validation of animal experiments. These results proved that GPE could significantly improve HUA induced by potassium oxazine with the characteristics of multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel overall regulation. In general, GPE could reduce the level of uric acid and alleviate liver and kidney injury caused by inflammatory response and oxidative stress. The mechanism might be related to the TNF-α and IL-7 signaling pathway.

Effect of carbohydrate-feeding strategy on the production, physiochemical changes, anti-inflammation activities of polysaccharides of Poria cocos

The aim of this research was to physiochemically characterize the structure and study the pharmaceutical benefits of the polysaccharide (PS) produced by Poria cocos using two selected carbohydrates (sucrose, and potato dextrose broth) in the in vitro culture system. A direct dosage effect was shown as sucrose- or PDB-based medium on the PS yield of Paragalago cocos. Very low-molecular-weight PS (<1 kDa) were largely synthesized by sucrose and PDB feeding. Sucrose-feeding mycelia of P. cocos results in a direct dosage effect in the fructose component in the PS. Sucrose and PDB feeding increased the glucose content but decreased the galactose content of PS. This study examined the anti-inflammatory activities of PS in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. At 100 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, PS from 10 g/L PDB- treatment, denoted as PDB 10, pretreatment showed maximal inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 release, respectively. Mechanically, PDB10 attenuated IκB from degradation in LPS-induced macrophages, and down-regulated LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK/AKT/p-38. PDB10 showed dose-dependent inhibition of the LPS induced TGFRII signaling pathways.

Green and Efficient Extraction of Polysaccharides From Poria cocos F.A. Wolf by Deep Eutectic Solvent

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were proposed for the extraction of polysaccharides from Poria cocos (PCPs). Six types of DESs were prepared, and the DES composed of choline chloride and oxalic acid was proved to be suitable. Based on the results of single-factor test, the Box-Behnken experimental design with response surface methodology was carried out, giving the optimal extraction conditions including mole ratio of 1:2 (choline chloride:oxalic acid) and extraction 15 minutes at 100°C. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the extraction yield (46.24% ± 0.13%) was 8.6 times higher than that of hot water. The reusability of DES was demonstrated by a 6-run test, and an extraction yield of PCP was 38.40% ± 0.23% after reusing for 6 times without adding any additional chemicals. Moreover, molecular weight distributions of the resulting PCP were analyzed, and then mainly distributed in the range of 753 to 3578 g/mol. Therefore, DESs were proved to be an excellent extraction solvent alternative to the extraction of PCP.