Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of bioactive components isolated from Hericium erinaceus

Rice foliar-adapted Pantoea species: Promising microbial biostimulants enhancing rice resilience against foliar pathogens, Magnaporthe oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

Foliar fungal blast and bacterial leaf blight have significant impacts on rice production, and their management through host resistance and agrochemicals has proven inadequate. To achieve their sustainable management, innovative approaches like leveraging the foliar microbiome, which collaborates with plants and competes against pathogens, are essential. In our study, we isolated three Pantoea strains (P. agglomerans Os-Ep-PPA-1b, P. vagans Os-Ep-PPA-3b, and P. deleyi Os-Ep-VPA-9a) from the rice phylloplane. These isolates exhibited antimicrobial action through their metabolome and volatilome, while also promoting rice growth. Our analysis, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), revealed the presence of various antimicrobial compounds such as esters and fatty acids produced by these Pantoea isolates. Inoculating rice seedlings with P. agglomerans and P. vagans led to increased root and shoot growth. Additionally, bacterized seedlings displayed enhanced immunocompetence, as evidenced by upregulated expressions of defense genes (OsEDS1, OsFLS2, OsPDF2.2, OsACO4, OsICS OsPR1a, OsNPR1.3, OsPAD4, OsCERK1.1), along with heightened activities of defense enzymes like Polyphenol Oxidase and Peroxidase. These plants also exhibited elevated levels of total phenols. In field trials, the Pantoea isolates contributed to improved plant growth, exemplified by increased flag-leaf length, panicle number, and grains per panicle, while simultaneously reducing the incidence of chaffy grains. Hypersensitivity assays performed on a model plant, tobacco, confirmed the non-pathogenic nature of these Pantoea isolates. In summary, our study underscores the potential of Pantoea bacteria in combatting rice foliar diseases. Coupled with their remarkable growth-promoting and biostimulant capabilities, these findings position Pantoea as promising agents for enhancing rice cultivation.

Hericium erinaceus, a medicinal fungus with a centuries-old history: Evidence in gastrointestinal diseases

Hericium erinaceus is an edible and medicinal mushroom commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Several studies have highlighted its therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disorders such as gastritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, some components of this mushroom appear to possess strong antineoplastic capabilities against gastric and colorectal cancer. This review aims to analyse all available evidence on the digestive therapeutic potential of this fungus as well as the possible underlying molecular mechanisms.

Gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The use of mushrooms in medicine is quite old and the first report about the use of genus Agaricus in treatment of ulcers occurred in Byzantine period. This mushroom is widely consumed as food, tea, food supplements, as well as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications, being cultivated and appreciated in several countries such as Brazil, Korea, Japan and China.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile and the potential gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill (HEAb).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extract was chemically characterized by elemental analysis, UPLC-QTOF-MS^E, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to elucidate the metabolites present in the extract. The quantification of phenolic compounds and the in vitro antioxidant activities were performed and the gastroprotective effect of this extract was evaluated against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. HEAb was administered by gavage at 5, 25 and 50 mg kg^-1 and N-acetylcysteine at 300 mg kg^-1 (positive control). Furthermore, the pathways of nitric oxide (NO), Cyclic Guanylate Monophosphate (cGMP), prostaglandins (PGs) and the involvement of ATP-sensitive K⁺ Channels were modulated.

RESULTS

Mannitol, malic acid, pyroglutamic acid, L-agaritine and L-valine were putatively identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS^E in HEAb. In addition, it was possible to identify mannitol by the intense signals in the NMR spectra, being still quantified as the main compound in the extract by HPLC. The contents of total phenols and flavonoids corroborated with the good antioxidant activity of HEAb. This study observed that HEAb at 25 and 50 mg kg^-1 had gastroprotection effect demonstrated by the reduction of histopathological parameters and the reduction of mastocytosis in the stomach of mice.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study was possible to conclude that HEAb has gastroprotective effect related to the involvement of NO and PG pathways in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice.

Antibiofilm activity and bioactive phenolic compounds of ethanol extract from the Hericium erinaceus basidiome

Biofilm formation has become a serious health and environmental problem. Mushrooms are now considered a valuable source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties. The lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus [HE]) has been used as an antimicrobial for ulcers and gastritis in East Asian countries. However, studies on the antibiofilm activities of HE basidiome against biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria and their bioactive compound profiles are still limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the antibiofilm activity of HE and to identify its phenolic compound profile. The HE inhibitory activities against bacterial growth and biofilm formation were performed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Remarkably, P. mirabilis was the most susceptible bacteria to HE. The total phenolic content (TPC) of HE was 1652 ± 1.06 µg/ml, with protocatechuic acid and p-coumaric acid being the most abundant phenolic compounds as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (HPLC-MS). This research highlights the possibility of HE as an antibiofilm agent that can be developed as a nutraceutical and natural food preservative.

Comparative analysis of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, antioxidant indexes, polysaccharides and lobetyolin changes of different tissues from Codonopsis pilosula co-inoculated with Trichoderma

Codonopsis pilosula is a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal plant and contains various bioactive components, such as C. pilosula polysaccharides (CPPs) and lobetyolin (Lob). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and nitric oxide (NO) are gaseous molecule and have been well known for their ability to relieve some adverse influences on plant from abiotic stress. Endophytic fungus is non-pathogenic plant-associated fungus that could play a significant role in improving plant tolerance by signal molecule. In this work, we determined how inoculation of Trichoderma strain RHTA01 with C. pilosula changed the plant's growth, metabolite accumulation, and related enzyme activity. Results demonstrated that application of Trichoderma strain RHTA01 significantly improved the growth of C. pilosula. Moreover, it noticeably decreased antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in C. pilosula leaves, reduced the content of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA), and weakened the peroxidation of cell membrane lipids, which reduced the damage of abiotic stress to C. pilosula. Research has shown that it had obvious effects on levels of nitrogen and carbon metabolic enzymes. For example, sucrose synthase (SS) and acid invertase (AI) levels in C. pilosula roots were nearly 1.43 and 1.7 times higher, respectively, than those in the control (CK) group. In addition, it was notable that the production of CPPs and Lob, the most significant secondary metabolites in C. pilosula, were influenced by Trichoderma strain RHTA01. The obtained results indicate that inoculating C. pilosula with Trichoderma stimulates the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of the plant, and helps to increase the content of CPPs and Lob in the root of the plant.

Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide in synergy with dacarbazine inhibits mouse melanoma by repolarizing M2-like tumor-associated macrophages into M1-like tumor-associated macrophages

BACKGROUND

The incidence and associated mortality of melanoma have increased significantly in recent years but treatment options are plagued with many undesirable side effects. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine polysaccharides are gaining increasing attention due to their potential role in the treatment of chronic diseases including tumors and the regulation of the immune system.

METHODS

In this study, the potential effects of Ganoderma lucidum crude polysaccharides (GLCP) and Codonopsis pilosula crude polysaccharides (CPCP) on melanoma in C57 mice were explored. In addition, the inhibition and repolarization effect of digested Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide (dCPP) on the proliferation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with M2-like phenotype induced by IL-4 were investigated.

RESULTS

The results showed that the various polysaccharides could significantly reduce tumor volume in melanoma mice. GLCP and GLCP + CPCP could further significantly reduce the number of CD68⁺ macrophages in tumors and also prolong survival in melanoma mice to a certain extent. Significantly, dCPP could inhibit the proliferation of IL-4-induced M2-like TAMs, and significantly increase the mRNA expression levels of IL-1, IL-6, iNOS and TNF-a, thereby promoting the repolarization of M2-like TAMs to M1-like TAMs.

CONCLUSION

Overall, it could be deduced that GLCP, CPCP and dCPP hold great potential as safe therapeutic options for melanoma and an immune-modulator which may require further exploration.

Promising Anti-cancer Therapeutics From Mushrooms: Current Findings and Future Perceptions

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, medicines derived from natural sources have drawn much attention as potential therapeutic agents in the suppression and treatment of cancer because of their low toxicity and fewer side effects.

OBJECTIVE

The present review aims to assess the currently available knowledge on the ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities of bioactive compounds obtained from medicinal mushrooms towards cancer treatment.

METHODS

A literature search has been conducted for the collection of research papers from universally accepted scientific databases. These research papers and published book chapters were scrutinized to retrieve information on ethnomedicinal uses of mushrooms, different factors involved in cancer cell proliferation, clinical and in silico pharmaceutical studies made for possible treatments of cancer using mushroom derived compounds. Overall, 241 articles were retrieved and reviewed from the year 1970 to 2020, out of which 98 relevant articles were finally considered for the preparation of this review.

RESULTS

This review presents an update on the natural bioactive substances derived from medicinal mushrooms and their role in inhibiting the factors responsible for cancer cell proliferation. Along with it, the present review also provides information on the ethnomedicinal uses, solvents used for extraction of anti-cancer metabolites, clinical trials, and in silico studies that were undertaken towards anticancer drug development from medicinal mushrooms.

CONCLUSION

The present review provides extensive knowledge on various anti-cancer substances obtained from medicinal mushrooms, their biological actions, and in silico drug designing approaches, which could form a basis for the development of natural anti-cancer therapeutics.

Neuroprotective Metabolites of Hericium erinaceus Promote Neuro-Healthy Aging

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome associated with both locomotor and cognitive decline, typically linked to chronic systemic inflammation, i.e., inflammaging. In the current study, we investigated the effect of a two-month oral supplementation with standardized extracts of H. erinaceus, containing a known amount of Erinacine A, Hericenone C, Hericenone D, and L-ergothioneine, on locomotor frailty and cerebellum of aged mice. Locomotor performances were monitored comparing healthy aging and frail mice. Cerebellar volume and cytoarchitecture, together with inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, were assessed focusing on senescent frail animals. H. erinaceus partially recovered the aged-related decline of locomotor performances. Histopathological analyses paralleled by immunocytochemical evaluation of specific molecules strengthened the neuroprotective role of H. erinaceus able to ameliorate cerebellar alterations, i.e., milder volume reduction, slighter molecular layer thickness decrease and minor percentage of shrunken Purkinje neurons, also diminishing inflammation and oxidative stress in frail mice while increasing a key longevity regulator and a neuroprotective molecule. Thus, our present findings demonstrated the efficacy of a non-pharmacological approach, based on the dietary supplementation using H. erinaceus extract, which represent a promising adjuvant therapy to be associated with conventional geriatric treatments.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube polysaccharide modified Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide as an adjuvant to extend immune responses

In recent years, the utilization of CS-MWCNT as targeted drug carriers has attracted considerable attention. Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) has been reported as an immunostimulant to improve immune responses. This study was focussed on developing CS-MWCNT encapsulating HEP (CS-MWCNT-HEP). Using in mice peritoneal macrophages, we found the immune response could be effectively regulated by CS-MWCNT-HEP, promoted the expression of the MHCII, CD86, F4/80 and gp38. Moreover, the mice immunized with CS-MWCNT-HEP nanoparticles significantly extended PCV₂-specific IgG immune response and the levels of cytokines. The results demonstrated that CS-MWCNT-HEP may be a promising drug delivery system for immuno-enhancement.

Can medicinal mushrooms have prophylactic or therapeutic effect against COVID-19 and its pneumonic superinfection and complicating inflammation?

Medicinal mushrooms have documented effects against different diseases, including infections and inflammatory disorders. The related Basidiomycota Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM), Hericium erinaceus (HE), and Grifola frondosa (GF) have been shown to exert antimicrobial activity against viral agents, Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, and parasites in vitro and in vivo. Since the mechanism is immunomodulatory and not antibiotical, the mushrooms should be active against multi‐drug resistant microbes as well. Moreover, since these Basidiomycota also have anti‐inflammatory properties, they may be suited for treatment of the severe lung inflammation that often follows COVID‐19 infection. An AbM‐based mushroom extract (Andosan™), also containing HE and GF, has been shown to significantly reduce bacteraemia and increase survival in mice with pneumococcal sepsis, and to improve symptoms and quality of life in IBD patients via an anti‐inflammatory effect. Hence, such mushroom extracts could have prophylactic or therapeutic effect against the pneumonic superinfection and severe lung inflammation that often complicates COVID‐19 infection. Here, we review antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory properties of AbM, HE and GF mushrooms, which could be used for the battle against COVID‐19.

Pre-protective effect of polysaccharides purified from Hericium erinaceus against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

The β-glucan H6PC20 (Mw: 2390 kDa) and α-heteropolysaccharide HPB-3 (Mw: 15 kDa) were purified from the fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus according to the previous methods. Their gastroprotective activities and corresponding structure-activity relationship were studied in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model of rats. After intragastric administrated with H6PC20 and HPB-3 for 14 days, macroscopic and histological evaluation of gastric mucosa was improved significantly. The defense and repair factors (EGF, bFGF and PGE₂) were increased, meanwhile, the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and MDA were reduced. These results indicated that H6PC20 and HPB-3 presented gastroprotective activities with the mechanism of activating repair and defense system, decreasing the inflammatory response and alleviating the oxidative injury. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationship showed that the macromolecular β-glucan was better for repair and defense system, while the low weight molecular α-heteropolysaccharide focused on the anti-inflammatory effect. The polysaccharides purified from H. erinaceus can be developed as a potential gastroprotective ingredient for applications in pharmaceutical field.

Designing selenium polysaccharides-based nanoparticles to improve immune activity of Hericium erinaceus

In previous researches, the results showed that selenium Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide and Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles enhanced immune responses. In order to further enhance the immune adjuvant activity and phagocytosis of the nanoparticles, two way of combination (selenium-HEP loaded PLGA nanoparticles and selenium modified HEP-PLGA nanoparticles) were prepared to investigate the effects on macrophages in vitro. After treatment with the nanoparticles, the effects of phagocytosis, co-stimulatory molecules expression, nitric oxide (NO), and cytokines secretion were evaluated. The results showed that the particle size, PDI and zeta potential of the selenium-HEP loaded PLGA nanoparticles (Se-HEP-PLGA) and selenium modifified HEP-PLGA nanoparticles (HEP-PLGA-Se) were presented. Se-HEP-PLGA and HEP-PLGA-Se nanoparticles significantly stimulated phagocytic activity, CD40 and CD86 expression of macrophages. In addition, the levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were enhanced in the peritoneal macrophages by stimulation with Se-HEP-PLGA and HEP-PLGA-Se nanoparticles. Among them, Se-HEP-PLGA showed the best effects on the expression of co-stimulatory molecules, secretions of NO and cytokines. These results indicated that Se-HEP-PLGA could enhance the activation of macrophages, and it could be potentially used as an HEP delivery system for the induction of strong immune responses.

Preparation, characterization and controlled-release property of CS crosslinked MWCNT based on Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides

In present study, the optimal condition of prepared drug was determined by response surface methodology. In addition, their physicochemical properties, drug release and uptake ability of CS-MWCNT-HEP were studied, and the distribution of the drug in ICR mice and the sites of action were further evaluated. Under the optimal condition, the mean experimental loaded efficiency 68.55 ± 1.47% was corresponded well with the predicted value of 68.28%. The results of in vitro experiments proved that a release of the drug in a pH-dependent behavior. Flow cytometry and inverted microscope showed that the uptake of CS-MWCNT-HEP in Raw264.7 cells increased significantly as the time increased. In vivo experiment proved that the HEP and CS-MWCNT-HEP were mainly accumulated in the kidney, shown the characteristics of kidney metabolism. On the other hand, the extended retention of CS-MWCNT-HEP in the mice could enhance the immune function. CS-MWCNT-HEP has high loaded efficiency and pH-responsive drug released, which could significantly improved the body's immunity and enhance the body's ability to absorbed drugs. These findings proposed a well characterized novel CS-MWCNT-HEP formulation as drug delivery system, and its mechanism and application will be further investigated in our undergoing studies.

Development and validation of an HPLC-DAD-MS method for determination of four nucleoside compounds in the New Zealand native mushroom Hericium sp

To identify and quantify the content of nucleoside compounds in the New Zealand native edible mushroom Hericium sp., a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole detector mass method was developed and validated. Four nucleoside substitutes, namely cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and guanosine, were identified. Optimization was conducted to study the effect of extraction method type, solvent pH, and extraction time. The optimal conditions were obtained using ultrasonic treatment in water at pH 3.8 for 30 min. For chromatographic separation, a C₁₈ column was applied using 0.1% formic acid (pH 3.4) as the mobile phase with detection at 260 nm. The total concentration of the four nucleoside compounds was high, at 10.7 mg/g dry weight, indicating a potential benefit for human health. The excellent validation results based on selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness revealed the reliability of the newly developed analytical method, which could be applied routinely in research laboratories.

Medicinal mushrooms as an attractive new source of natural compounds for future cancer therapy

Medicinal mushrooms have been used throughout the history of mankind for treatment of various diseases including cancer. Nowadays they have been intensively studied in order to reveal the chemical nature and mechanisms of action of their biomedical capacity. Targeted treatment of cancer, non-harmful for healthy tissues, has become a desired goal in recent decades and compounds of fungal origin provide a vast reservoir of potential innovational drugs. Here, on example of four mushrooms common for use in Asian and Far Eastern folk medicine we demonstrate the complex and multilevel nature of their anticancer potential, basing upon different groups of compounds that can simultaneously target diverse biological processes relevant for cancer treatment, focusing on targeted approaches specific to malignant tissues. We show that some aspects of fungotherapy of tumors are studied relatively well, while others are still waiting to be fully unraveled. We also pay attention to the cancer types that are especially susceptible to the fungal treatments.