Structural analysis of monocyte activation constituents in cultured mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis

Bio-Characterization and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Exopolysaccharides in Biofilm-Producing Cyanobacteria Isolated from Soil Crust: Exploring the Potential of Microalgal Biomolecules

Exopolysaccharide-producing cyanobacterial strains in biological soil crusts are described, in addition to their chemical properties and antioxidant and flocculation activities. The EPSs from Pudukkottai blackish biological soil crusts (PBBSCs) showed significant amounts of total soluble proteins (0.1687 mg/mL) and carbohydrates (0.8056 mg/mL) compared with the Ariyalur blackish biological soil crusts (ABBSCs). LC-MS analysis of the cyanobacterial polysaccharides revealed the presence of natural sugars such as ribose and glucose/mannose, and uronic acids. The FTIR spectrum showed specific peak for OH and -NH stretching, C-H stretching, and carboxylic acids as the dominant groups in EPS. The in vitro DPPH assay of EPSs from PBBSCs showed 74.3% scavenging activity. Furthermore, the reducing power was determined to be 0.59 ata 500 mg/mL concentration, respectively. The extracted EPSs from the biological soil crust flocculated Kaolin clay suspension maximum at 500 mg/mL. Consequently, the cyanobacterial strain and exopolysaccharide characterization from the sacred forest's biological soil crust were analyzed for their bioactive potential, bio-crust diversity, and distribution.

Cordyceps polysaccharide marker CCP modulates immune responses via highly selective TLR4/MyD88/p38 axis

Cordyceps, one of the most expensive natural health supplements, is popularly used to modulate immune function. However, little is known regarding the underlying mechanism of its immunomodulatory activity. We newly reported a Cordyceps quality marker CCP (Mw 433.778 kDa) which was characterized as a 1,4-α glucan by chemical and spectral analysis and is able to induce significant immune responses of macrophages. Herein, we further investigated the molecular mechanism of CCP's immunomodulatory effects. The results indicate that CCP modulates the TLR4/MyD88/p38 signaling pathway of macrophages, where TLR4 plays a crucial role as verified on TLR4-deficient (TLR4^-/-) bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and TLR4^-/- mice. These findings provide a precise understanding of the molecular mechanism of Cordyceps' immunomodulatory benefits.

Functional polysaccharides from medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis as a potent food supplement: extraction, characterization and therapeutic potentials – a systematic review

As a rich source of novel polysaccharides, Cordyceps sinensis (CS), one of the valued traditional Chinese medicinal fungi, is a major focus of many natural products research efforts.

Recent advances in Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharides: Mycelial fermentation, isolation, structure, and bioactivities: A review

Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) sinensis, the Chinese caterpillar fungus, is a unique and precious medicinal fungus in traditional Chinese medicine which has been used as a prestigious tonic and therapeutic herb in China for centuries. Polysaccharides are bioactive constituents of C. sinensis, exhibiting several activities such as immunomodulation, antitumour, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic. As natural C. sinensis fruiting body-caterpillar complexes are very rare and expensive, the polysaccharides documented over the last 15-20 years from this fungal species were mostly extracted from cultivated fungal mycelia (intracellular polysaccharides) or from mycelial fermentation broth (exopolysaccharides). Extraction and purification of the polysaccharides is a tedious process involving numerous steps of liquid and solid phase separations. Nevertheless, a large number of polysaccharide structures have been purified and elucidated. However, relationships between the structures and activities of these polysaccharides are not well established. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most recent developments in various aspects (i.e., production, extraction, structure, and bioactivity) of the intracellular and exopolysaccharides from mycelial fermentation of C. sinensis fungi. The contents and data will serve as useful references for further investigation, production and application of these polysaccharides in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Properties of Cordyceps Sinensis: A review

A great mystique and aura surrounds Cordyceps sinensis (syn.: Cephalosporium sinensis), an endoparasitic fungus which has claims of anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. Much research has been conducted over the years on crude extracts and its bioactivity. More research is now focused on culturing C. sinensis and on isolating and identifying pure compounds novel to C. sinensis in an attempt to alleviate strain on demand for the natural fungi. Several polysaccharides, nucleosides and sterols all have had reports of promoting health both in vitro and in vivo. Specific and novel compounds which are characteristic to C. sinensis are emerging with reports of two new epipolythiodioxopiperazines, gliocladicillins A and B capable of inhibiting growth of HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7 tumor cells. Exclusive to natural C. sinensis, five constituents of cordysinin (A-E) has also been reported for the first time and has been linked to anti-inflammatory properties. Although it may still be premature to believe these results should translate into pharmaceutical use, there is sufficient evidence to warrant further research.

A Systematic Review of the Mysterious Caterpillar Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Dong-ChongXiaCao ( Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo) and Related Bioactive Ingredients

The caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn.Cordyceps sinensis), which was originally used in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine, is called either "yartsa gunbu" or "DongChongXiaCao ( Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo)" ("winter worm-summer grass"), respectively. The extremely high price of DongChongXiaCao, approximately USD $20,000 to 40,000 per kg, has led to it being regarded as "soft gold" in China. The multi-fungi hypothesis has been proposed for DongChongXiaCao; however, Hirsutella sinensis is the anamorph of O. sinensis. In Chinese, the meaning of "DongChongXiaCao" is different for O. sinensis, Cordyceps spp., and Cordyceps sp. Over 30 bioactivities, such as immunomodulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, have been reported for wild DongChongXiaCao and for the mycelia and culture supernatants of O. sinensis. These bioactivities derive from over 20 bioactive ingredients, mainly extracellular polysaccharides, intracellular polysaccharides, cordycepin, adenosine, mannitol, and sterols. Other bioactive components have been found as well, including two peptides (cordymin and myriocin), melanin, lovastatin, γ-aminobutyric acid, and cordysinins. Recently, the bioactivities of O. sinensis were described, and they include antiarteriosclerosis, antidepression, and antiosteoporosis activities, photoprotection, prevention and treatment of bowel injury, promotion of endurance capacity, and learning-memory improvement. H. sinensis has the ability to accelerate leukocyte recovery, stimulate lymphocyte proliferation, antidiabetes, and improve kidney injury. Starting January 1(st), 2013, regulation will dictate that one fungus can only have one name, which will end the system of using separate names for anamorphs. The anamorph name "H. sinensis" has changed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants to O. sinensis.

Reparative properties of the traditional Chinese medicine Cordyceps sinensis (Chinese caterpillar mushroom) using HT29 cell culture and rat gastric damage models of injury

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a traditional Chinese medicine and health food used to support many organ systems. It is commercially produced by cultivation in a liquid medium or on a solid (grain/potato) phase. We tested the effects of hot water extracts of liquid-phase and solid-phase commercially grown CS on its ability to influence proliferation (using Alamar blue, an oxidation/reduction indicator), migration (serial-wounded monolayer photomicroscopy), invasion through collagen gel (fluorometric assay) and indomethacin-induced apoptosis (active caspase-3 colorimetric assay) of human colon cancer HT29 cells. An in vivo study used a rat gastric damage model (indomethacin 20 mg/kg and 4 h restraint with oral administration). The CS extract stimulated cell proliferation threefold when added at 10 μg/ml (P < 0·01). Cell migration increased by 69 % and invasion by 17 % when CS was added at 5 mg/ml (P < 0·01). The results also showed that 93 % of the pro-proliferative activity was soluble in ethanol, whereas pro-migratory activity was divided (61:49) into both ethanol-soluble and ethanol-insoluble sub-fractions. Indomethacin-induced apoptosis was not affected by the presence of CS. CS reduced the amount of gastric injury by 63 % when administered orally at 20 mg/ml (P < 0·01), the results being similar to using the potent cytoprotective agent epidermal growth factor at 25 μg/ml (83 % reduction). We conclude that both methods of cultivated CS possess biological activity when analysed using a variety of gut models of injury and repair. Functional foods, such as CS, could provide a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of injury to the bowel.

A potent sphingomyelinase inhibitor from Cordyceps mycelia contributes its cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in macrophages

A novel water-soluble polysaccharide fraction, CME-1, with a molecular mass of 27.6 kDa and containing mannose and galactose in a respective ratio of 4:6, was prepared from Cordyceps sinensis mycelia and identified by NMR and GC-MS. In the current study, we examined whether CME-1 has anti-inflammatory effects in RAW264.7 cells. The ability of CME-1 to inhibit H(2)O(2)-induced cell death in RAW264.7 cells was assessed by using an MTT assay and annexin V/propidium iodide double staining; we found that CME-1 protected cells against H(2)O(2)-induced injury. H(2)O(2)-induced intracellular oxidative stress and mitochondrial membrane depolarization were also diminished with CME-1 treatment. We evaluated the hydroxyl radical scavenging ability of CME-1 by using the DMPO-electron spin resonance technique, which indicated that CME-1 acts as an intracellular antioxidant in a concentration-dependent manner through a mechanism other than its scavenging activity. Activities of both neutral and acid sphingomyelinases (SMases) were assessed in vitro, and results showed that the CME-1 inhibited activities of both neutral and acid SMases in a concentration-dependent manner. CME-1 reduced H(2)O(2) treatment-elevated C16- and C18-ceramide levels measured by LC/MS/MS in RAW264.7 cells. Results suggest that CME-1 protects RAW264.7 cells against oxidative stress through inhibition of SMase activity and reduction of C16- and C18-ceramide levels.

Immunomodulatory dietary polysaccharides: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

A large body of literature suggests that certain polysaccharides affect immune system function. Much of this literature, however, consists of in vitro studies or studies in which polysaccharides were injected. Their immunologic effects following oral administration is less clear. The purpose of this systematic review was to consolidate and evaluate the available data regarding the specific immunologic effects of dietary polysaccharides.

METHODS

Studies were identified by conducting PubMed and Google Scholar electronic searches and through reviews of polysaccharide article bibliographies. Only articles published in English were included in this review. Two researchers reviewed data on study design, control, sample size, results, and nature of outcome measures. Subsequent searches were conducted to gather information about polysaccharide safety, structure and composition, and disposition.

RESULTS

We found 62 publications reporting statistically significant effects of orally ingested glucans, pectins, heteroglycans, glucomannans, fucoidans, galactomannans, arabinogalactans and mixed polysaccharide products in rodents. Fifteen controlled human studies reported that oral glucans, arabinogalactans, heteroglycans, and fucoidans exerted significant effects. Although some studies investigated anti-inflammatory effects, most studies investigated the ability of oral polysaccharides to stimulate the immune system. These studies, as well as safety and toxicity studies, suggest that these polysaccharide products appear to be largely well-tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken as a whole, the oral polysaccharide literature is highly heterogenous and is not sufficient to support broad product structure/function generalizations. Numerous dietary polysaccharides, particularly glucans, appear to elicit diverse immunomodulatory effects in numerous animal tissues, including the blood, GI tract and spleen. Glucan extracts from the Trametes versicolor mushroom improved survival and immune function in human RCTs of cancer patients; glucans, arabinogalactans and fucoidans elicited immunomodulatory effects in controlled studies of healthy adults and patients with canker sores and seasonal allergies. This review provides a foundation that can serve to guide future research on immune modulation by well-characterized polysaccharide compounds.

Effects of two basidiomycete species on interleukin 1 and interleukin 2 production by macrophage and T cell lines

Two basidiomycete species, Lentinus edodes mycelia (LEM) and Cordyceps sinensis (CS) were examined for induction of cytokines in murine macrophage cell line R309 (R309) and T cell line LBRM-33 1A5 (1A5). When lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated R309 were exposed to the extracts of basidiomycetes, R309 induced significant levels of interleukin 1 (IL-1). Interleukin 2 (IL-2) induction was recognized in 1A5 cultures in the presence of IL-1 and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). However, no enhancement of IL-2 production by these basidiomycetes was discerned in 1A5 cultures with IL-1 and PHA, i.e., direct action of basidiomycetes was not found on IL-2 production of 1A5. PHA-stimulated 1A5 exposed to basidiomycetes induced IL-2 without IL-1 when co-cultured with LPS-activated R309 as a source of IL-1. Effects of basidiomycetes on IL-2 production in 1A5 seemed to be caused through their action on macrophages. The induction of IL-2, Th1 type cytokine in T lymphocyte, is a significant finding since basidiomycetes, taken as a dietary supplement for immuno-suppressed patients, especially cancer patients, would be helpful in improving their immune activity against cancer.