In-vitro antioxidant activities of an ethanolic extract of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus

Quercetin-loaded sodium alginate/collagen/h-boron nitride potential wound dressings prepared using the Box-Behnken experimental design

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Natural and synthetic biocompatible polymers have received significant attention in the pharmaceutical industry due to their rapid and effective healing properties in the wound healing process. The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction of onions, the preparation of sodium alginate/collagen/hydrogen boron nitride (NaAlg/Col/h-BN) membranes using the Box-Behnken experimental design, and determine the optimal conditions for quercetin release. The study also aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the prepared membranes and their therapeutic properties.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The prepared membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Antimicrobial activities were tested against Gram-negative (Gr-) Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter aerogenes, Gram-positive (Gr+) Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 pathogens. In vitro release studies were conducted to examine the therapeutic properties of the prepared membranes. The optimum conditions for the extraction of onions and the preparation of NaAlg/Col/h-BN membranes were found to be EtOH = 75 mL, t = 2 h, T = 45°C, and NaAlg = 1.0 g, Col = 2.0 g, and h-BN = 6% wt, respectively. The prepared membranes exhibited serious antimicrobial properties against S. aureus and C. albicans. The membranes also promoted the controlled release of quercetin for 24 h in vitro, indicating their potential as a new approach in wound treatment.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that quercetin-filled NaAlg/Col/h-BN membranes have promising therapeutic properties for wound healing. The membranes exhibited significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and their controlled release of quercetin suggests their potential for use in wound healing applications.

UPLC‒ESI‒MS/MS profiling of active polyphenolics in Morinda coreia leaf extract and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity

In this study, aqueous and methanol extracts of Morinda coreia (MC) leaves were tested for antioxidant and antibacterial activity under in vitro conditions. Phytochemical analysis using UPLC-ESI-MS revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, amino acids, proteins, saponins, and tannins. Under in vitro conditions, antioxidant test using DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power demonstrated that the plant leaves play a crucial role in antioxidant activity compared to the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activities showed that the IC₅₀ values of the M. coreia methanol extract were 26.35 μg/mL and 200.23 μg/mL, respectively. The methanol extract of M. coreia contained higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids and higher free radical scavenging capacity than the aqueous extract. FTIR analysis of the methanol extract showed a substantial number of phenols in the functional groups of M. coreia leaves. The well diffusion assay using the methanolic extract of M. coreia (200 μg/mL) leaves showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 ± 0.85 mm), Proteus sp. (20 ± 0.97 mm), Streptococcus sp. (21 ± 1.29 mm), and Enterobacter sp. (17 ± 0.2 mm). Thus, the present study revealed that the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of M. coreia leaf extract was due to the presence of 18 unknown and 15 primary known polyphenols.

Bioactive Metabolites from the Fruiting Body and Mycelia of Newly-Isolated Oyster Mushroom and Their Effect on Smooth Muscle Contractile Activity

Higher basidiomycetes are recognized as functional foods due to their bioactive compound content, which exerts various beneficial effects on human health, and which have been used as sources for the development of natural medicines and nutraceuticals for centuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the biological potential of basidiocarp and mycelial biomass produced by submerged cultivation of a new regionally isolated oyster mushroom. The strain was identified with a high percentage of confidence (99.30%) as Pleurotus ostreatus and was deposited in the GenBank under accession number MW 996755. The β-glucan content in the basidiocarp and the obtained mycelial biomass was 31.66% and 12.04%, respectively. Three mycelial biomass and basidiocarp extracts were prepared, and the highest total polyphenol content (5.68 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g DW and 3.20 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g DW) was found in the water extract for both the fruiting body and the mycelium biomass. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts was investigated, and it was determined that the water extracts exhibited the most potent radical scavenging activity. The potential ability of this new fungal isolate to affect the contractile activity (CA) of dissected smooth muscle preparations (SMP) was examined for the first time. It was found that oyster mushrooms likely exhibit indirect contractile effects on the gastric smooth muscle (SM) cells.

Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content of Sonication- and Maceration-Assisted Ethanol and Acetone Extracts of Cymbopogon citratus Leaves

Cymbopogon citratus is a medicinal and well-known aromatic plant which is usually used as a substitute for green-tea with extraordinary phytomedicinal potential. It is of great importance because it offers several promising health effects. The objective of the study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of lemongrass leaves extracted by maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction techniques. Different concentrations of both acetone and ethanol (50% and 70%) as solvents were tested for their radical scavenging activity against the stable free radical DPPH in quantization using a spectrophotometric assay. The ultrasound-assisted extraction technique had advantageous results in the polyphenols extraction yield (26.68%), TPC (61 mg GAE/g of extract) and DPPH (73.85%) compared to the maceration technique. Overall, the results were significant from 50% ethanol and the DPPH results were more significant from 70% ethanol than other concentrations. It is concluded that the ultrasound-assisted extraction is a better extraction technique for polyphenols than other conventional techniques.

Pleurotus Ostreatus Ameliorates Obesity by Modulating the Gut Microbiota in Obese Mice Induced by High-Fat Diet

Pleurotus ostreatus (PO), a common edible mushroom, contains rich nutritional components with medicinal properties. To explore the effect of PO on ameliorating obesity and modulating the gut microbiota, we administered the mice with a low-fat diet or high-fat diet containing different dosages of PO (mass fraction: 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 10%). The body weight, adipose tissue weight, GTT, ITT, blood lipids, serum biomarkers of liver/kidney function, the gut microbiota and function were measured and analyzed after 6 weeks of PO treatment. The results showed PO prevented obesity, maintained glucose homeostasis and beneficially modulated gut microbiota. PO modified the composition and functions of gut microbiota in obese mice and make them similar to those in lean mice, which contributed to weight loss. PO significantly increased the relative abundance of Oscillospira, Lactobacillus group and Bifidobacterium, while decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Roseburia. The prediction of gut microbiota function showed PO upregulated lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, while it downregulated adipocytokine signaling pathway and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Correlation analysis further suggested the potential relationship among obesity, gut microbiota and the function of gut microbiota. In conclusion, all the results indicated that PO ameliorated obesity at least partly by modulating the gut microbiota.

Effects of Pleurotus ostreatus on Physicochemical Properties and Residual Nitrite of the Pork Sausage

In this work, a novel sausage incorporated with the Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) puree was successfully developed to reduce the residual nitrite and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage (4 ± 1 °C) for 20 days. Five recipes with the supplement proportion of 0 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 20 wt.%, 30 wt.%, and 40 wt.% PO were produced and their physicochemical properties, nitrite residue, and sensory characteristics were measured. The results show that the content of moisture and all the essential amino acids (especially lysine and leucine) and the non-essential amino acids (especially aspartic and glutamic), lightness, springiness, and water holding capacity of the sausages were increased. However, the content of protein, fat, ash, pH, redness, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the sausages was decreased. For the sensory evaluation, the sausage with 20 wt.% PO had better sensory performance including flavor, aroma, and acceptability compared with other experimental groups and the control group. Moreover, the sausages with PO reduced the residual nitrite and inhibited lipid oxidation during storage. All of these results indicate that adding PO puree into pork sausage is a realizable and effective way to obtain nutritional and healthy pork sausages.

Pleurotus Genus as a Potential Ingredient for Meat Products

Edible mushrooms are considered an important source of nutritional and bioactive compounds. In this review, the findings of macronutrients, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobials against foodborne pathogens of some Pleurotus spp., as well as their potential use as an ingredient in the meat industry are discussed. The results show that Pleurotus spp. are an important source of proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Additionally, the presence of some bioactive components, such as polysaccharides (α-glucans, β-glucans, and so on), proteins/enzymes and peptides (eryngin, pleurostrin, and others) phenolic acids (p-coumaric, chlorogenic, cinnamic, ferulic, gallic, protocatechuic, and others) and flavonoids (chrysin, naringenin, myricetin, quercetin, rutin, or the like) has been demonstrated. Several works evidenced the use of Pleurotus spp. in some meat and meat products (patties, sausages, paste, and suchlike) as a novel ingredient in order to improve their chemical composition and functional health promoting properties, as well as to increase their physicochemical and sensory attributes. In conclusion, the use of Pleurotus is a promissory strategy for the development of natural additives rich in nutritional and bioactive components for meat and meat product formulation.

A review of the therapeutic and biological effects of edible and wild mushrooms

Throughout history, mushrooms have occupied an inseparable part of the diet in many countries. Mushrooms are considered a rich source of phytonutrients such as polysaccharides, dietary fibers, and other micronutrients, in addition to various essential amino acids, which are building blocks of vital proteins. In general, mushrooms offer a wide range of health benefits with a large spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiviral, antibacterial, osteoprotective, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, etc. Both wild edible and medicinal mushrooms possess strong therapeutic and biological activities, which are evident from their in vivo and in vitro assays. The multifunctional activities of the mushroom extracts and the targeted potential of each of the compounds in the extracts have a broad range of applications, especially in the healing and repair of various organs and cells in humans. Owing to the presence of the aforementioned properties and rich phytocomposition, mushrooms are being used in the production of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. This review aims to provide a clear insight on the commercially cultivated, wild edible, and medicinal mushrooms with comprehensive information on their phytochemical constituents and properties as part of food and medicine for futuristic exploitation. Future outlook and prospective challenges associated with the cultivation and processing of these medicinal mushrooms as functional foods are also discussed.

A comprehensive review on phenolic compounds from edible mushrooms: Occurrence, biological activity, application and future prospective

Phenolic compounds are minor metabolites usually present in mushroom species. Because of their potential advantages for human health, such as antioxidant and other biological activities, these bioactive components have been gaining more interest as functional foods, nutraceutical agents for providing better health conditions. This review aims to comprehensively discuss the recent advances in mushroom phenolic compounds, including new sources, structural characteristics, biological activities, potential uses and its industrial applications as well as the future perspectives. Phenolic acids as well as flavonoids are considered the most common phenolics occurring in mushroom species. These are responsible for its bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antihyperglycaemic, antiosteoporotic, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial activities. Several edible mushroom species with good phenolic content and show higher biological activity were highlighted, in a way for its futuristic applications. Trends on mushroom research highlighting new research areas, such as nanoformulation were discussed. Furthermore, the use of phenolic compounds as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical agents as well as the future perspectives and recommendations were made.

Investigation of the nutritional value and antioxidant activities of common Bangladeshi edible mushrooms

Background

Mushrooms have been recognized both as medicine and nutritional food in many countries for thousands of years, owing to the presence of significant amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fibers, and antioxidants. This study aims at evaluating the nutritional contents and antioxidant potentials of seven types of mushrooms cultivated in Bangladesh.

Methods

Proximate composition analysis of the collected mushrooms was performed to determine moisture content, pH, lipid, crude fibre, total ash, protein, carbohydrate content, and calorific value. Antioxidant potential of collected mushrooms were evaluated by mean of eight different methods including total flavonoid content, phenolic content, tannin content, total antioxidant activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, DPPH assay and reducing power capacity.

Results

The results demonstrated that investigated mushrooms were found rich in proteins (20–45 g/100 g), carbohydrate (11–61 g/100 g in dry sample) and fibre (5–40 g/100 g). The ash content was found 6–10 g/100 g and glucose content 54–160 mg/100 g. However, all the mushrooms showed a lower content of lipid (1–4%). Results also revealed that the total antioxidant capacity of the extracts were found in the concentration range of 0.08–0.21 mg/mL, whereas the hydroxyl radical and DPPH radical scavenging activity were 0.88–1.40 and 0.05–0.63 mg/mL.

Conclusion

The findings of the current investigation proved that the studied Bangladeshi mushrooms are good source of nutritional and antioxidant components. Therefore, this study can help spreading awareness among Bangladeshi people regarding consumption of mushrooms as functional foods.

Effect of cultivating Pleurotus ostreatus on substrates supplemented with herb residues on yield characteristics, substrates degradation, and fruiting bodies' properties

BACKGROUND

Inappropriate disposal of herb residues in China has caused major problems for the immediate environment and to human safety. Here, three herb residues, compound Kushen injection (CKI), Qizhi Tongluo capsule (QTC), and Shenbai Shuxin capsule (SSC), were applied as substrates to corncob at various ratios (30:60, 45:45, and 60:30) for the propagation of the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. The effects of supplementation using herb residues on yield, biodegradation ability, bioactive compounds, antioxidant properties, and safety of P. ostreatus were assessed.

RESULTS

Different spawn running times were observed using growth medium, whereas 45CKI, 60QTC, and 30SSC media were determined as optimal-performing substrate combinations, resulting in yields of 843 g kg^-1 , 828 g kg^-1 , and 715 g kg^-1 respectively. Biodegradation analysis of consumed substrates revealed a significant decrease in cellulose and hemicellulose levels compared with lignin. Furthermore, chemical analysis of fruiting bodies revealed that the 45CKI and 60QTC substrates resulted in higher total phenol, flavonoid, terpenoid, and vitamin C levels, but significantly reduced water-soluble polysaccharides compared with the corncob medium. The methanol extract of fruiting bodies grown on substrates containing herb residues exhibited higher antioxidant properties than the control, as it was more effective in scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals, had greater reducing power, and more strongly inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatography studies indicated that fruiting bodies did not generate matrine (a specific toxin produced in Kushen) when cultivated using the CKI substrate.

CONCLUSIONS

P. ostreatus cultivation on substrates mixed with herb residues facilitates herb residue management as well as bioactivity-rich and non-toxic fruit body formation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Pleurotus spp. Cultivated on Different Agricultural Wastes in Chiro, Ethiopia

In the present study, mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus florida, were cultivated on different agricultural wastes namely coffee straw (CS), pea straw (PS), Sorghum Grain Residue (SGR), and Wheat Grain (WG) for the evaluation of antibacterial activity. Antimicrobial activity evaluation was carried out against human pathogenic microorganisms, namely, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi by using the disc diffusion method. Methanolic extracts of P. ostreatus cultivated on a Sorghum grain residue substrate were recorded for the highest antibacterial activity against E. coli (19.8 mm) and P. aeruginosa (16.4 mm), and methanolic extracts of P. florida cultivated on a wheat grain substrate were recorded for the highest antibacterial activity against E. coli (18.6 mm) and S. faecalis (14.8 mm). Therefore, results suggested that P. ostreatus and P. florida cultivated on the coffee straw and Sorghum grain substrate were found with the highest antimicrobial activity in comparison to other substrates. The results supported that the methanolic extracts of P. ostreatus and P. florida might indeed be potential sources of antibacterial agents.

Exploration of nutritional, antioxidative, antibacterial and anticancer status of Russula alatoreticula: towards valorization of a traditionally preferred unique myco-food

Healthy food trend is becoming popular these days fueling search for ingredients empowered by pharma-nutritional benefits. In contrast, numerous wild-growing mushrooms are traditionally cherished as health promoting gastronomies in India; although credibility of their effects has so far been limited. Hence the present study aimed to unveil a unique tribal cuisine, Russula alatoreticula, with nutritional, chemical and pharmacological relevance. The outcome demonstrated an excellent alimentary composition with carbohydrate and protein as prominent macronutrients in contrast to fat providing oleic acid (36.66%), linoleic acid (16.84%), palmitic acid (16.01%) and stearic acid (15.31%) indicative of profitable nutritive account. Conversely, ethanolic fraction enriched with phenolics (pyrogallol > cinnamic acid) presented effective antioxidant property in terms of radical scavenging, Fe²⁺ chelating and reducing power with EC₅₀ ranging from 785 to 2500 μg/ml. Remarkable antibacterial activity was also noted against the tested microorganisms (MIC of 72.5-1560 μg/ml) preferentially targeting Gram-positive one. Besides treatment of the preparation rendered Hep3B proliferation as evident by phenotypic changes, cell cycle interference, reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane potential reduction, DNA fragmentation, change in Bax/Bcl2 ratio and activation of caspase9 signifying induction of intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Thus the study represents R. alatoreticula as a value-added bio-resource that could be featured in food and pharmaceutical industries for betterment of humankind.

Fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of plant hormone by Pichia fermentans under submerged conditions

The study was designed to evaluate the production of auxin by eukaryotic unicellular organism Pichia fermentans. Different media formulations were used for the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) under broth and submerged conditions. Wheat straw-based production medium was formulated and optimized using statistical approach. The IAA production was significantly enhanced by nine folds, when the wheat straw was pretreated with Phanerochaete chrysosporium (150 µg/ml) as compared to untreated wheat straw (16.44 µg/ml). Partial purification of IAA was carried out by silica gel column chromatography and further confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Exogenous application of crude and partially purified IAA positively influenced the Vigna radiata seedling growth. The number of lateral roots in the growing seedlings was significantly higher as compared to the control seeds. Thus, the present findings point towards an efficient production of plant hormone by yeast and white rot fungus using abundantly available wheat straw, which may lead to the development of cost-effective production of such metabolites and their further use in agricultural field to reduce the negative impact of chemical fertilizers.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Trametes polyzona (Pers.) Justo

Polypores are cosmopolitan mushrooms, widely investigated for their beneficial properties in combatting multidrug resistant pathogens. The present study focuses on the need for new, naturally sourced antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds from mushrooms. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the phenolic extract of strains of Trametes polyzona (Pers.) Justo, were investigated. Strains of T. polyzona were analyzed for total phenolic content, Trolox antioxidant equivalent, DPPH radical scavenging and antibacterial activities. The amplification of the ribosomal DNA-ITS fragments from DNA of selected mushrooms was carried out using ITS1 and ITS4 primers. The antibacterial activity of phenolic extracts of T. polyzona was comparable to the antibiotics, ceftazidime and erythromycin. T. polyzona extracts inhibited the growth of the different strains of K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. enterica tested in this study. The results of the study demonstrate that, T. polyzona can be a potential source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds.

Physicochemical properties and bioactivities of original and Se-enriched polysaccharides with different molecular weights extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus

Three polysaccharides (WZP1, WZP2, WZP3) and their Se-enriched products (SeWZP1, SeWZP2 and SeWZP3) were obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus using a simple, rapid method and HNO3-Na2SeO3 method, respectively. The molecular weight distribution profiles of all samples except SeWZP2 showed double peaks. The average molecular weights (Mw) of WZP1-3 were 48.6 kDa, 20.2 kDa and 11.8 kDa, respectively, and of SeWZP1-3 were 19.6 kDa, 37.7 kDa, 14.5 kDa, respectively. The complexity of monosaccharide composition of WZP1-3 was inversely proportional to the ethanol concentration used in the ethanol precipitation process. Additionally, the results of biological activity tests indicated that α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of WZP1-3 was related to the molecular weight and the monosaccharide composition complexity. The selenized modification can improve the α-glucosidase-inhibiting, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity of P. ostreatus polysaccharides. Therefore, by improving their bioactivities by selenization, the polysaccharides of P. ostreatus could be utilized as a natural health food supplement.

Notes, outline and divergence times of Basidiomycota

The Basidiomycota constitutes a major phylum of the kingdom Fungi and is second in species numbers to the Ascomycota. The present work provides an overview of all validly published, currently used basidiomycete genera to date in a single document. An outline of all genera of Basidiomycota is provided, which includes 1928 currently used genera names, with 1263 synonyms, which are distributed in 241 families, 68 orders, 18 classes and four subphyla. We provide brief notes for each accepted genus including information on classification, number of accepted species, type species, life mode, habitat, distribution, and sequence information. Furthermore, three phylogenetic analyses with combined LSU, SSU, 5.8s, rpb1, rpb2, and ef1 datasets for the subphyla Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina and Ustilaginomycotina are conducted, respectively. Divergence time estimates are provided to the family level with 632 species from 62 orders, 168 families and 605 genera. Our study indicates that the divergence times of the subphyla in Basidiomycota are 406–430 Mya, classes are 211–383 Mya, and orders are 99–323 Mya, which are largely consistent with previous studies. In this study, all phylogenetically supported families were dated, with the families of Agaricomycotina diverging from 27–178 Mya, Pucciniomycotina from 85–222 Mya, and Ustilaginomycotina from 79–177 Mya. Divergence times as additional criterion in ranking provide additional evidence to resolve taxonomic problems in the Basidiomycota taxonomic system, and also provide a better understanding of their phylogeny and evolution.

Nutritional value, micronutrient and antioxidant capacity of some green leafy vegetables commonly used by southern coastal people of Bangladesh

Southern coastal people of Bangladesh are highly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition due to coastal flooding, deforestation and increased soil salinity. A number of green leafy vegetables are found in the southern coastal belt being traditionally eaten as daily basis by local people. But they are unaware of nutritional and medicinal use of these vegetables. To contribute to their wider utilization, five common vegetables namely Hibiscus sabdariffa, Trianthema portulacastrum, Diplazium esculentum, Heliotropium indicum L. and Hygrophila auriculata were selected for analysis of nutritional proximate, micronutrients and antioxidant potential. Nutritional properties were analyzed in terms of moisture, pH, protein, lipid, ash, fibre, minerals and carbohydrate. Total flavonoid, tannin and antioxidant capacity were evaluated using established protocols. The results demonstrated that collected plants are rich in carbohydrate, fibre, proteins, moisture and ash content but low in lipid content. The mineral elements were high with remarkable amount of Na (19.9–21.5 mg/gm), K (7.9–13.5 mg/gm) and P (1.0–1.8 mg/gm). All the samples were found to have considerable amount of flavonoid (90.6–144.5 mg QE/gm) and tannin content (26.8–57.2 mg GAE/gm). The IC₅₀ value of DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging was the lowest for H. indicum (37.1 and 83.4 μg/ml, respectively) whereas T. portulacastrum possessed high reducing power (IC₅₀ 53.7 μg/ml). Among the five investigated species, T. portulacastrum and H. indicum were found to have good nutritional and antioxidant properties, thus can be promoted as a significant source of nutritional and antioxidant food supplements.

Protective and therapeutic potential of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and [6]-gingerol in cancer: A comprehensive review

Natural dietary agents have attracted considerable attention due to their role in promoting health and reducing the risk of diseases including cancer. Ginger, one of the most ancient known spices, contains bioactive compounds with several health benefits. [6]-Gingerol constitutes the most pharmacologically active among such compounds. The aim of the present work was to review the literature pertaining to the use of ginger extract and [6]-gingerol against tumorigenic and oxidative and inflammatory processes associated with cancer, along with the underlying mechanisms of action involved in signaling pathways. This will shed some light on the protective or therapeutic role of ginger derivatives in oxidative and inflammatory regulations during metabolic disturbance and on the antiproliferative and anticancer properties. Data collected from experimental (in vitro or in vivo) and clinical studies discussed in this review indicate that ginger extract and [6]-gingerol exert their action through important mediators and pathways of cell signaling, including Bax/Bcl2, p38/MAPK, Nrf2, p65/NF-κB, TNF-α, ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, ROS/NF-κB/COX-2, caspases-3, -9, and p53. This suggests that ginger derivatives, in the form of an extract or isolated compounds, exhibit relevant antiproliferative, antitumor, invasive, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Chrysin Pretreatment Improves Angiotensin System, cGMP Concentration in L-NAME Induced Hypertensive Rats

N^ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) is a non-specific nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, commonly used for the induction of NO-deficient hypertension. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of chrysin with flavnoids, on L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Methods: An experimental hypertensive animal (180–220 g) model was induced by L-NAME intake on rats. In treatment chrysin was orally administered 25 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Blood pressure was measured by tail cuff plethysmography system. Cardiac and vascular function was evaluated by Langendorff isolated heart system with Angiotensin II (Ang-II), Hexo oxygenase (HO-1), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentration in tissues respectively. Rats with hypertension showed an elevated blood pressure (BP), left ventricular functions, ang II, and decreased cGMP concentration of tissues. Treatment of chrysin is reverse to near normal in left ventricular functions, Ang-II, Ho-1 and decreased cGMP concentration of tissues. The antihypertensive effect of chrysin appears to be mediated by a reduction in left ventricular functions, cardiac oxidative stress and Ang-II, an increase in cardiac HO-1, cGMP concentration and a prevention of plasma nitric oxide loss.

Antioxidant Activity and Protective Effects of Enzyme-Extracted Oudemansiella radiata Polysaccharides on Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

This work was to examine the antioxidation in vitro and hepatoprotective effects of enzyme-extracted Oudemansiella radiata polysaccharides (En-OPS) on alcohol-induced liver damage in mice. The antioxidant activities were determined according to the scavenging effects of En-OPS on hydroxyl, superoxide, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, and the level of reducing power. En-OPS showed hepatoprotective activities on decreasing the serum levels of aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alamine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as hepatic lipid levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerols (TG). En-OPS treatment reversed the acute impairment induced by alcohol consumption, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, malondialdehyde (MAD), and lipid peroxide (LPO) elevation; and superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH peroxide (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) impairment. The En-OPS effectively ameliorated alcohol metabolism by activating alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and reducing cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) levels. Furthermore, the histopathological observations also displayed that En-OPS could alleviate liver damage. These results indicated that En-OPS could be suitable to be an ingredient of preventing alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). In addition, the preliminary structure characteristics of En-OPS were also analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID).

Increasing Antioxidant Activity and Protein Digestibility in Phaseolus vulgaris and Avena sativa by Fermentation with the Pleurotus ostreatus Fungus

The aim of the research was to determine the impact of fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus on kidney beans, black beans, and oats. The results indicate that the fungus has a positive effect on the substrates when compared to the controls. The antioxidant activity (39.5% on kidney beans and 225% on oats in relation to the controls) and content of total polyphenols (kidney beans three times higher regarding the controls) increased significantly by the presence of the fungus mycelium, even after simulated digestion. There was a significant increase in protein digestibility (from 39.99 to 48.13% in black beans, 44.06 to 69.01% in kidney beans, and 63.25 to 70.01% in oats) and a decrease of antinutrient tannins (from 65.21 to 22.07 mg in black beans, 35.54 to 23.37 in kidney beans, and 55.67 to 28.11 in oats) as well as an increase in the contents of some essential amino acids. Overall, this fermentation treatment with Pleurotus ostreatus improved the nutritional quality of cereals and legumes, making them potential ingredients for the elaboration and/or fortification of foods for human nutrition.

Identification of phytoconstituents and in-vitro evaluation of the putative anticataractogenic effect of an ethanolic root extract of Leucas aspera

Modern herbal medicine has played a significant role in treating oxidative stress and related complications. In the present investigation, gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of ethanolic extracts of the leaf and of the root of Leucas aspera (L. aspera) (Willd.) Link separately showed the presence of various phytoconstituents; major components have already been reported to possess various biological, including antioxidant, activities. Of the two extracts analyzed, the root extract exhibited more potential antioxidant activity than did the leaf extract. Since this finding correlated with more perceptible amounts of antioxidant components being detected in the ethanolic extract of L. aspera root, the root extract was evaluated for possible anticataractogenic potential in cultured Wistar rat lenses. Following incubation of Wistar rat lenses for 24h at 37°C in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), gross morphological examination revealed that none of the eight lenses incubated in DMEM alone (Group I) exhibited any opacification (Grade 0), whereas all eight lenses incubated in DMEM that contained sodium selenite (100μM selenite/ml of DMEM) (Group II) exhibited thick opacification (Grade +++). In contrast, only one out of eight lenses incubated in DMEM containing sodium selenite (100μM selenite/ml of DMEM) and simultaneously exposed to the L. aspera root extract (300μg/ml of DMEM) (Group III) exhibited a slight degree of opacification (Grade +) after 24h incubation, while the remaining seven lenses did not show any opacification (Grade 0). The mean activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase and the mean level of reduced glutathione were all significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group III lenses than the mean values in Group II lenses. The mean concentration of malondialdehyde in Group III lenses was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in Group II lenses. Further, significantly (p<0.05) lower mean mRNA transcript levels of the genes encoding αA- and βB1-crystallins, as well as significantly lower mean levels of the αA- and βB1-crystallin proteins themselves, were observed in Group II lenses. However, in Group III lenses, the mean mRNA transcript levels of the crystallin genes, and the mean protein levels, were essentially similar to those noted in normal control (Group I) lenses. The results of the present study suggest that in selenite-challenged Wistar rat lenses simultaneously exposed to an ethanolic extract of L. aspera root, lenticular opacification was prevented by mean activities of enzymatic antioxidants, mean levels of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde mean expression levels of genes encoding αA- and βB1-crystallins, and mean levels of the crystallin proteins themselves, being maintained at near normal levels. Further studies are required to confirm whether the ethanolic extract of the root of L. aspera can be developed for pharmacological management of cataract.

Extraction and quantification of polyphenols from kinnow (Citrus reticulate L.) peel using ultrasound and maceration techniques

An investigation was carried out to extract polyphenols from the peel of kinnow (Citrus reticulate L.) by maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) techniques. The antioxidant potential of these polyphenols was evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide radical scavenging assays; and their antimicrobial activity was assessed against bacterial strains Staphyloccoccus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhimurium. The highest extraction yield was obtained through the solvent ethanol at 80% concentration level, whereas UAE was a more efficient technique and yielded comparatively higher polyphenol contents than maceration. Maximum polyphenols were extracted with 80% methanol [32.48 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract] using UAE, whereas minimum phenolics (8.64 mg GAE/g extract) were obtained with 80% ethyl acetate through the maceration technique. Elevated antioxidant activity of kinnow peel extracts was exhibited in three antioxidant assays, where 80% methanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity (27.67 ± 1.11mM/100 g for FRAP) and the highest scavenging activity, 72.83 ± 0.65% and 64.80 ± 0.91% for DPPH and superoxide anion radical assays, respectively. Strong correlations between total polyphenols and antioxidant activity were recorded. Eleven phenolic compounds—including five phenolic acids and six flavonoids—were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Ferulic acid and hesperidin were the most abundant compounds whereas caffeic acid was the least abundant phenolic compound in kinnow peel extracts. Maximum inhibition zone was recorded against S. aureus (16.00 ± 0.58 mm) whereas minimum inhibition zone was noted against S. typhimurium (9.00 ± 1.16 mm). It was concluded that kinnow mandarin peels, being a potential source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, may be used as an ingredient for the preparation of functional foods.

Comparative study on the antioxidant activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts from the fruiting bodies of an edible mushroom Pleurotus djamor

In vitro antioxidant activities, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents of Pleurotus djamor extracts were analyzed based on radical scavenging activities of methanol and aqueous extracts using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD), total Fe3+ reducing power, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, metal chelating activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. Both extract types showed efficient radical scavenging activities against DPPH and DMPD radicals, ferric (Fe3+) and cupric (Cu2+) ion reducing powers, metal chelating activities, and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Total phenolic contents of methanol and aqueous extracts were 2.79 and 5.95 mg of GAE/g, respectively. Flavonoid contents of methanol and aqueous extracts were 6.35 and 5.75 mg of CAE/g, respectively. Consumption of the mushroom P. djamor can be beneficial due to antioxidant properties.