An insight into the anti-inflammatory properties of edible and medicinal mushrooms

Anti-inflammatory properties of polysaccharides from edible fungi on health-promotion: a review

Edible fungus polysaccharides have garnered significant attention from scholars due to their safety and potential anti-inflammatory activity. However, comprehensive summaries of their anti-inflammatory properties are still rare. This paper provides a detailed overview of the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of these polysaccharides, as well as their impact on inflammation-related diseases. Additionally, the relationship between their structure and anti-inflammatory activity is discussed. It is believed that this review will greatly enhance the understanding of the application of edible fungus polysaccharides in anti-inflammatory treatments, thereby significantly promoting the development and utilization of edible fungi.

Bioactive Peptides and Other Immunomodulators of Mushroom Origin

For centuries, humans have used mushrooms as both food and pro-health supplements. Mushrooms, especially those related to the functions of the human immune system, are rich in dietary fiber, minerals, essential amino acids, and various bioactive compounds and have significant health-promoting properties. Immunoregulatory compounds in mushrooms include lectins, terpenes, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs). The distribution of these compounds varies from one species of mushroom to another, and their immunomodulatory activities depend on the core structures and chemical modifications in the composition of the fractions. In this review, we describe active compounds from medical mushrooms. We summarize potential mechanisms for their in vitro and in vivo activities and detail approaches used in developing and applying bioactive compounds from mushrooms. Finally, we discuss applications of fungal peptides and highlight areas that require improvement before the widespread use of those compounds as therapeutic agents and explore the status of clinical studies on the immunomodulatory activities of mushrooms and their products, as well as the prospect of clinical application of AMPs as 'drug-like' compounds with great potential for treatment of non-healing chronic wounds and multiresistant infections.

Critical review on anti-inflammation effects of saponins and their molecular mechanisms

This review highlights the increasing interest in one of the natural compounds called saponins, for their potential therapeutic applications in addressing inflammation which is a key factor in various chronic diseases. It delves into the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of these amphiphilic compounds, prevalent in plant-based foods and marine organisms. Their structures vary with soap-like properties influencing historical uses in traditional medicine and sparking renewed scientific interest. Recent research focuses on their potential in chronic inflammatory diseases, unveiling molecular actions such as NF-κB and MAPK pathway regulation and COX/LOX enzyme inhibition. Saponin-containing sources like Panax ginseng and soybeans suggest novel anti-inflammatory therapies. The review explores their emerging role in shaping the gut microbiome, influencing composition and activity, and contributing to anti-inflammatory effects. Specific examples, such as Panax notoginseng and Gynostemma pentaphyllum, illustrate the intricate relationship between saponins, the gut microbiome, and their collective impact on immune regulation and metabolic health. Despite promising findings, the review emphasizes the need for further research to comprehend the mechanisms behind anti-inflammatory effects and their interactions with the gut microbiome, underscoring the crucial role of a balanced gut microbiome for optimal health and positioning saponins as potential dietary interventions for managing chronic inflammatory conditions.

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides in mushrooms

Mushrooms are distinguished as important food-containing polysaccharides possessing potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. These compounds belong mostly to polysaccharides that are mostly β-D-glucans. Among them, β-1,3-glucan with β-1,6 side chains of glucose residues, has more important roles in their properties. In this review, we have introduced polysaccharides mainly from Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus citrinopileatus with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. In addition, the mechanisms of activation of their physiological properties and signal cascade are also reviewed.

Research progress in the preparation, structural characterization, and biological activities of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicines are tremendous sources of polysaccharides, which are of great interest in the human welfare system as natural medicines, food, and cosmetics. This review aims to highlight the recent trends in extraction (conventional and non-conventional), purification and analytic techniques of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides (TCMPs), and the chemical structure, biological activities (anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, intestinal flora regulation, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and other activities), and the underlying mechanisms of polysaccharides extracted from 76 diverse traditional Chinese medicines were compared and discussed. With this wide coverage, a total of 164 scientific articles were searched from the database including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and China Knowledge Network. This comprehensive survey from previous reports indicates that TCMPs are non-toxic, highly biocompatible, and good biodegradability. Besides, this review highlights that TCMPs may be excellent functional factors and effective therapeutic drugs. Finally, the current problems and future research advances of TCMPs are also introduced. New valuable insights for the future researches regarding TCMPs are also proposed in the fields of therapeutic agents and functional foods.

Structural characterization of a polysaccharide from Alhagi honey and its protective effect against inflammatory bowel disease by modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis

The Alhagi honey polysaccharide (AHP) exhibits notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, positioning it as a promising candidate in traditional Chinese medicine. In this investigation, we successfully isolated and purified a neutral AHP, designated AHPN50-1a, subsequently elucidating its structural attributes. AHPN50-1a was found to have a molecular weight of 1.756 × 106 Da, featuring a structural motif characterized by a recurring (1→6)-α-GlcP linker. To comprehensively evaluate its therapeutic potential, we explored the protective effects of AHPN50-1 in a murine model of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. Administration of AHPN50-1 at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day resulted in improved food intake, increased body weight, and increased colon length in mice with acute colitis. Simultaneously, a reduction in the disease activity index and histological scores was observed. AHPN50-1 effectively mitigated colon tissue damage, down-regulated the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in colon tissue, restored intestinal microbiota diversity, and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of gut microbiota metabolites, thus alleviating intestinal inflammation in mice. In summary, our findings underscore the promise of AHPN50-1 as a valuable nutritional or dietary supplement for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory bowel disease.

Effects of Balsa Fish Skin Gelatin, Lentinula edodes Mushrooms, Soy Protein Isolate, and Starch on the Sensory Quality and Characterization of Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of New Sausage

Sausages are loved by people for their unique texture, satisfying chewiness, and pleasant flavor. However, in the production of sausages, red meat and a large amount of fat are mainly used, and long-term consumption will increase the risk of diseases such as obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Our previous studies have shown that the intake of red meat and fat can be reduced through the replacement of lean meat and fat in sausages by Lentinula edodes and Pleaurotus eryngii mushrooms, but this will lead to the deterioration of the gel of sausage products and seriously affect the sensory quality of sausages. In this study, the response surface method was used to optimize the amount of balsa fish skin gelatin, soy protein isolate, and starch added to, and the proportion of Lentinula edodes mushrooms replacing lean meat in, the new sausage, with Pleaurotus eryngii mushrooms replacing fat. The results show that Lentinula edodes mushrooms replaced 36.1% of the lean meat, and the addition of 0.96% balsa fish skin gelatin, 10.61% starch, and 9.94% soy protein isolate resulted in the highest sensory score and the sensory quality being the closest to that of traditional sausages. Compared with the control group, this novel sausage exhibits characteristics such as lower fat and saturated fatty acid content, reduced energy levels, and higher levels of amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, cysteine, methionine, and proline) and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The total phenolic content of the novel sausage is 12.52 times higher than that of the control. In comparison with the control group, the novel sausage demonstrates a 65.58% increase in DPPH radical scavenging activity and a 3.88-fold improvement in ABTS+ radical scavenging activity. These findings highlight the outstanding antioxidant performance of the novel sausage. This study provides new ideas for improving the sensory quality of new sausages, promoting the healthy development of the sausage industry, and promoting the high-value utilization of edible mushrooms.

Effects of ultrasonic-enzymatic-assisted ethanol precipitation method on the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides

This investigation involved the extraction of a novel polysaccharide from the spore fermentation broth of Tremella fuciformis using a method that combined ultrasonic and enzymatic assistance with ethanol precipitation. It was then compared with enzymatic and ultrasonic extraction methods. The objective of this research is to offer a reference point for expanding the application of ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction technology in T. fuciformis polysaccharides (TFPs). Based on single-factor experiments, Box-Behnken was used to optimize the extraction conditions of TFPs by ultrasonic-enzymatic-assisted ethanol precipitation extraction. The results revealed an optimal combination of enzymes, with a cellulase-to-papain ratio of 2:1, an enzyme addition of 4000U/100 mL, an enzymolysis temperature of 49 °C, ultrasonicpower at 3 W/mL and an ultrasonictime of 20 min. The extraction rate of TFPs and α- amylase inhibition rates were 23.94 % and 61.44 %, respectively. Comparing the physicochemical properties, structural characterization and in vitro activity of TFPs extracted through different methods, the results showed that ultrasonic treatment significantly influences the apparent morphology of polysaccharide and could enhance its in vitro biological activity. However, different extraction techniques exhibit insubstantial impact on the chemical composition, glycosidic bonds or glycosidic ring configurations within the polysaccharides. Among them, ultrasonic-enzymatic-assisted ethanol precipitation extraction of polysaccharide has the highest extraction rate and the lowest viscosity. It has significant effects on ABTS+ scavenging activity, α- amylase inhibition rate and glucose dialysis retardation index, polysaccharide treated with ultrasonic-enzymatic showed the best performance. These findings suggest that ultrasonic-enzymatic-assisted ethanol precipitation extraction can enhance the activities of TFPs, thereby providing a valuable insight for their future development and application.

Food and Antioxidant Supplements with Therapeutic Properties of Morchella esculenta (Ascomycetes): A Review

Morchella esculenta, commonly known as yellow morels, is an edible and medicinal mushroom popular worldwide for its unique flavor and culinary purposes. The traditional medical system effectively uses morels against infertility, fatigue, cancer, muscular pain, cough, and cold. The M. esculenta possesses many health-promoting nutritional components such as mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, protein hydrolysates, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. The potential medicinal properties of morels is due to polysaccharides (galactomannan, chitin, β-glucans, and β-1,3-1,6-glucan) present that has high economic importance worldwide. Polysaccharides present possess a broad spectrum of biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant. However, the toxicity and clinical trials to prove its safety and efficacy for medicinal uses are yet to be evaluated. Moreover, the separation, purification, identification, and structural elucidation of active compounds responsible for the unique flavors and biological activities are still lacking in M. esculenta. The available information provides a new base for future perspectives. It highlights the need for further studies of this potent medicinal mushroom species as a source of beneficial therapeutic drugs and nutraceutical supplements.

Medicinal Mushrooms: Past, Present and Future

The survival of Homo sapiens is continually under threat from agencies capable of inflicting calamitous damage to the overall health and well-being of humankind. One strategy aimed at combatting this threat is focused on medicinal mushrooms and derivatives thereof. Mushrooms themselves have been consumed as part of the human diet for centuries, whereas 'mushroom nutriceuticals' is a more recently adopted term describing mushroom-derived products taken as dietary supplements to enhance general health and fitness. Among the most extensively studied pharmacologically active components of mushrooms are polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes, triterpenes, lectins, and fungal immunomodulatory proteins. Medicinal mushrooms have been credited with a wide range of therapeutic properties including antitumour/anti-cancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, cholesterol-lowering and genoprotective activities as well as protection against atherosclerosis, cardiovascular, chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. This review examines the past, present and future of medicinal mushroom development including the two legs concept for the mushroom industry and the pyramid model summarizing the various human applications of mushrooms. It considers numerous issues the industry needs to address to exploit fully the opportunities presented by the continued increasing demand for medicinal mushrooms, and by the future overall expansion of the medicinal mushroom movement.

Antioxidant properties of fortified yogurt with medicinal mushrooms from Phellinus species

In light of the powerful therapeutic features of Phellinus species and due to the absence of toxic compounds, our investigations were aimed at screening of the antioxidant profile of fortified yogurts with hot water extracts from Phellinus torulosus and Phellinus igniarius leveled to 10%, 5%, and 1% final fortification concentrations after acknowledging their superior bioactive content and radical scavenging capacities (59.77% and 56.73% of DPPH inhibition, respectively) versus cold water extracts (29.87% and 33.18% inhibition rates). Fortified samples signified dose-dependent increases in their inhibition rates during the storage period, with significant differences between 10% fortifications on the 7 day of storage in favor of the samples fortified with P. torulosus. Explicitly, P. torulosus showed 16% higher DPPH and 62.5% higher LPO neutralizing activity than yogurt enriched with P. igniarius. However, prolonged refrigeration tended to equalize antioxidant profiles in both fortified yogurts. Total titratable acidity and pH levels of the fortified yogurts as most important parameters for consumer acceptance were unaltered during storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: It is a common scientific perception that bioactive compounds present in wild medicinal fungi are the main contributors for their in vitro antioxidant efficiency. On account of these attributes, Phellinus species have been exploited in Far East Asia as safe remedies for many disorders thus making them attractive fortifying ingredients; however, according to our knowledge these mushrooms have never been used as natural additives in beverages. Given the current popularity of yogurt consumption as seen from the global market profits, as well as experimental evidences of enhanced potency of extract in comparison with powder due to maximal bioavailability of antioxidants, it is our belief that this study will increase the interest in the manufacture of functional foods with extracts from wild mushrooms.

Current advances and potential trends of the polysaccharides derived from medicinal mushrooms sanghuang

For thousands of years, sanghuang is distinctive as a general designation for a group of precious and rare Chinese medicinal mushrooms. Numerous investigations have revealed that polysaccharide is one of the important biological active ingredients of sanghuang with various excellent biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, and anti-microbial functionalities. For the past two decades, preparation, structural characterization, and reliable bioactivities of the polysaccharides from fruiting bodies, cultured mycelia, and fermentation broth of sanghuang have been arousing extensive interest, and particularly, different strains, sources, and isolation protocols might result in obvious discrepancies in structural features and bioactivities. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent reports on preparation strategies, structural features, bioactivities, and structure-activity relationships of sanghuang polysaccharides, which will enrich the knowledge on the values of natural sanghuang polysaccharides and support their further development and utilization as therapeutic agents, vaccines, and functional foods in tonic and clinical treatment.

Modulation of T Cell Responses by Fucoidan to Inhibit Osteogenesis

Fucoidan has sparked considerable interest in biomedical applications because of its inherent (bio)physicochemical characteristics, particularly immunomodulatory effects on macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells. However, the effect of fucoidan on T cells and the following regulatory interaction on cellular function has not been reported. In this work, the effect of sterile fucoidan on the T-cell response and the subsequent modulation of osteogenesis is investigated. The physicochemical features of fucoidan treated by high-temperature autoclave sterilization are characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. It is demonstrated that high-temperature autoclave treatment resulted in fucoidan depolymerization, with no change in its key bioactive groups. Further, sterile fucoidan promotes T cells proliferation and the proportion of differentiated T cells decreases with increasing concentration of fucoidan. In addition, the supernatant of T cells co-cultured with fucoidan greatly suppresses the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 by downregulating the formation of alkaline phosphatase and calcium nodule compared with fucoidan. Therefore, our work offers new insight into the fucoidan-mediated T cell and osteoblast interplay.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Enriched Camel Milk Attenuated Colitis Symptoms in Mice Model

Fermented camel’s milk has various health beneficial prebiotics and probiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive efficacy of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens enriched camel milk (BEY) in 2-, 4- and 6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice models. To this end, the immune modulatory effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA) on TNF-α challenged HT29 colon cells were estimated using the cell proliferation and cytokines ELISA method. BEY was prepared using the incubation method and nutritional value was quantified by comparing it to commercial yogurt. Furthermore, TNBS-induced colitis was established and the level of disease index, pathological scores, and inflammatory markers of BEY-treated mice using macroscopic and microscopic examinations, qPCR and immunoblot were investigated. The results demonstrate that BA is non-toxic to HT29 colon cells and balanced the inflammatory cytokines. BEY reduced the colitis disease index, and improved the body weight and colon length of the TNBS-induced mice. Additionally, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1β, IL6, IL8 and TNF-α) were attenuated by BEY treatment. Moreover, the inflammatory progress mRNA and protein markers nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and occludin were significantly down-regulated by BEY treatment. Interestingly, significant suppression of PCNA was observed in colonic tissues using the immunohistochemical examination. Treatment with BEY increased the epigenetic (microRNA217) interactions with PCNA. In conclusion, the BEY clearly alleviated the colitis symptoms and in the future could be used to formulate a probiotic-based diet for the host gut health and control the inflammatory bowel syndrome in mammals.

Camel milk modulates the gut microbiota and has anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse model of colitis

Camel milk is a nutritionally rich food that shows anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, and gut microbiota maintenance properties. However, the relationship between camel milk and the intestinal microbiota during colitis is unclear. Herein, we evaluated the protective effect of camel milk in mice with colitis induced using dextran sodium sulfate. Our results showed that camel milk can prevent body weight loss and colon shortening, reduce the disease activity index, and attenuate colon tissue damage. Additionally, camel milk could reduce the overexpression of inflammatory factors, inhibit the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and promote the expression of claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 proteins. Moreover, camel milk effectively regulated intestinal microbiota in mice with colitis by increasing the gut microbiota diversity, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (such as g_norank_f_Muribaculaceae, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group), and reducing the number of harmful bacteria (Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella). In addition, camel milk increased the levels of intestinal short-chain fatty acids. The results of the present study demonstrated that via regulating the intestinal microbiota, maintaining intestinal barrier function, and inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines, camel milk can ameliorate dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Optimization Extraction and Antioxidant Activity of Crude Polysaccharide from Chestnut Mushroom (Agrocybe aegerita) by Accelerated Solvent Extraction Combined with Response Surface Methodology (ASE-RSM)

The present work is conducted to investigate the optimal extraction technology of polysaccharide from chestnut mushroom (Agrocybe aegerita) using a new method based on accelerated solvent extraction combined with response surface methodology (ASE-RSM). The conventional reflux extraction (CRE) method and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method were also carried out. Additionally, the in vitro antioxidant activities, including ABTS and DPPH assay, were evaluated. The RSM method, based on a three level and three variable Box–Behnken design (BBD), was developed to obtain the optimal combination of extraction conditions. In brief, the polysaccharide was optimally extracted with water as extraction solvent, extraction temperature of 71 °C, extraction time of 6.5 min, number of cycles of 3, and extraction pressure of 10 MPa. The 3D response surface plot and the contour plot derived from the mathematical models were applied to determine the optimal conditions. Under the above conditions, the experimental value of polysaccharide yield was 19.77 ± 0.12%, which is in close agreement with the value (19.81%) predicted by the model. These findings demonstrate that ASE-RSM produce much higher polysaccharide and consumed environmentally friendly extraction and solvent systems, have less extraction discrimination and shorter time and provide scientific basis for industrialization of polysaccharide extraction. Moreover, it was proved that the polysaccharide had the potential ability to scavenge ABTS and DPPH.

Structure of water-soluble polysaccharides in spore of Ganoderma lucidum and their anti-inflammatory activity

Ganoderma lucidum spore is widely accepted as functional food. Polysaccharides are the predominant bioactive components in G. lucidum spore and contribute much to its health benefits. However, their structural characteristics remain unclear. In this work, water-soluble polysaccharides (GLSP) were obtained by hot water extraction. Three monosaccharides, including arabinose (Ara), glucose (Glc) and galactose (Gal), were presented in GLSP. 1D and 2D NMR data revealed that GLSP were composed mainly by two polysaccharides, β-glucan and arabinogalactan. The arabinogalactan had a backbone of galactan with Araf in the side chain. β-Glucan was the dominant polysaccharide in G. lucidum spore. The molecular weight was measured. GLSP could induce IEC-6 cells proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, GLSP possessed a strong anti-inflammatory activity through inhibiting the overproduction of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced by LPS. These results implied the potential of GLSP on gut barrier protection.

Bachu Mushroom Polysaccharide Alleviates Colonic Injury by Modulating the Gut Microbiota

Objective

This study was to define the protective effect of purified Helvella leucopus polysaccharide (p-HLP) against dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis.

Methods

The novel p-HLP was isolated from Bachu mushroom through hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. Then, we evaluated the potential effects of p-HLP on colonic histopathology, inflammation, and microbiota composition in DSS-induced colitis mice.

Results

p-HLP was a homopolysaccharide with an average molecular weight of 39.14 × 10⁸ Da. Functionally, p-HLP significantly attenuated DSS-induced body weight loss and colon shortening. The histological score of the colon lesion was significantly decreased upon p-HLP treatment. Also, p-HLP treatment led to decreased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, and COX-2 and iNOS) and increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the colon tissues. Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed that p-HLP modulated the composition of the gut microbiota.

Conclusion

p-HLP is a potent regulator that protects the lesions from DSS-induced colitis.

Edible Mushrooms as Novel Myco-Therapeutics: Effects on Lipid Level, Obesity and BMI

Obesity, usually indicated by a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2, is a worsening global health issue. It leads to chronic diseases, including type II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Conventional treatments for obesity include physical activity and maintaining a negative energy balance. However, physical activity alone cannot determine body weight as several other factors play a role in the overall energy balance. Alternatively, weight loss may be achieved by medication and surgery. However, these options can be expensive or have side effects. Therefore, dietary factors, including dietary modifications, nutraceutical preparations, and functional foods have been investigated recently. For example, edible mushrooms have beneficial effects on human health. Polysaccharides (essentially β-D-glucans), chitinous substances, heteroglycans, proteoglycans, peptidoglycans, alkaloids, lactones, lectins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, terpenes, phenols, nucleotides, glycoproteins, proteins, amino acids, antimicrobials, and minerals are the major bioactive compounds in these mushrooms. These bioactive compounds have chemo-preventive, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Consumption of edible mushrooms reduces plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and plasma glucose levels. Polysaccharides from edible mushrooms suppress mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, contributing to their anti-obesity properties. Therefore, edible mushrooms or their active ingredients may help prevent obesity and other chronic ailments.

Molecular modelling of coat protein of the Groundnut bud necrosis tospovirus and its binding with Squalene as an antiviral agent: In vitro and in silico docking investigations

Bud blight disease caused by groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) is a serious constraint in the cultivation of agricultural crops such as legumes, tomato, chilies, potato, cotton etc. Owing to the significant damage caused by GBNV, an attempt was made to identify suitable organic antiviral agents through molecular modelling of the nucleocapsid Coat Protein of GBNV; molecular docking and molecular dynamics that disclosed the interaction of the ligands viz., Squalene and Ganoderic acid-A with coat protein of GBNV. Invitro inhibitory effect of Squalene and Ganoderic acid-A was examined in comparison with different concentrations, against GBNV in cowpea plants under glasshouse condition. The different concentrations of Squalene (50, 100, 150, 250 and 500 ppm) tested in vitro resulted in reduction of lesion numbers (1.69 cm²) as well as reduced virus titre in co-inoculation spray. The present study suggests the antiviral activity of Squalene by effectively fitting into binding site of coat protein of GBNV with favourable hydrophilic as well as strong hydrophobic interactions thereby challenging and blocking the binding of viral replication RNA with coat protein and propagation. The present organic antiviral molecules will be helpful in development of suitable eco-friendly formulations to mitigate GBNV infection disease in plants.

New insights into molecular mechanisms of "Cold or Hot" nature of food: When East meets West

Traditional Chinese medicines are largely adopted in China and have a key importance in the world medical system. Cold-hot nature is the important characteristics of food and Chinese Materia Medica in the traditional Chinese medicine, relating to food functions in the organism. As compared to the studies on the cold and hot nature in Chinese medicine, the research studies carried out to establish the association between cold-hot nature and food are insufficient. Intending to investigate the criteria to discriminate the cold-hot nature of food and Chinese medicine scientifically, this review collected the cold-hot nature-related literature in recent 20 years in several popular databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. This review explored that the cold and hot natures are not only linked to the chemical components such as water, carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids, but also correlated to the biological effects, comprising of energy metabolism, inflammation response, oxidation reaction, immune response, and cell growth and proliferation. Besides, this review further put forward the possibility that cold-hot nature of food and Chinese medicine exert different biological effects on the inflammatory response via regulating the signaling pathways viz. NF-κB and MAPK. More extensive studies are needed to consider the overall connections between both the biological effects and chemical components and how food processing affects the cold-hot nature of the food.

Lectins purified from medicinal and edible mushrooms: Insights into their antiviral activity against pathogenic viruses

For thousands of years, fungi have been a valuable and promising source of therapeutic agents for treatment of various diseases. Mushroom is a macrofungus which has been cultivated worldwide for its nutritional value and medicinal applications. Several bioactive molecules were extracted from mushroom such as polysaccharides, lectins and terpenoids. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with non-immunologic origin. Lectins were classified according to their structure, origin and sugar specificity. This protein has different binding specificity with surface glycan moiety which determines its activity and therapeutic applications. A wide range of medicinal activities such as antitumor, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and antidiabetic were reported from sugar-binding proteins. However, glycan-binding protein from mushroom is not well explored as antiviral agent. The discovery of novel antiviral agents is a public health emergency to overcome the current pandemic and be ready for the upcoming viral pandemics. The mechanism of action of lectin against viruses targets numerous steps in viral life cycle such as viral attachment, entry and replication. This review described the history, classification, purification techniques, structure-function relationship and different therapeutic applications of mushroom lectin. In addition, we focus on the antiviral activity, purification and physicochemical characteristics of some mushroom lectins.

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, and bioaccessibility of Tigzirt propolis

This work aims to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of Tigzirt propolis native to Algeria. We divided 48 male Wistar rats into 8 groups. We orally administered ethyl acetate extract of propolis (EAP), pure polyphenols compounds, or diclofenac 5 days before induction of inflammation by of carrageenan (100 μg/ml, i.p.). We determined the development of paw edema, biological parameters, myeloperoxidase activity, TNF-α, and prostaglandin E2 and measured the oxidative status parameters, as well. Finally, we analyzed the absorption and bioaccessibility of propolis in rats' plasma using GC-MS after orally dosing rats (250 mg/kg). The pretreatment by 200 and 250 mg/kg of propolis significantly reduced the edema rates after the third hour. Propolis can restore the disruption of homeostasis as well as markers of inflammation induced by carrageenan in Wistar rats, and an increase of the enzymatic activities. Furthermore, the inflammation was better resolved in rats that received propolis than in those treated with pure polyphenols. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Propolis is a natural mixture that bees produce by mixing gathered resin and gums to bee saliva and wax. Our research investigated the effect of Tigzirt propolis on the inhibition of biomarkers of inflammation and the development of paw edema. Propolis extract helped to reduce PGE2, TNF-α, myeloperoxidase, and malondialdehyde levels and increase the total antioxidant levels in plasma. Our findings emphasized the use of phenolic extract of propolis in industries such as nutraceuticals for the prevention of inflammatory diseases. It can also protect the body against damage under oxidative stress.

Medicinal Properties and Bioactive Compounds from Wild Mushrooms Native to North America

Mushrooms, the fruiting bodies of fungi, are known for a long time in different cultures around the world to possess medicinal properties and are used to treat various human diseases. Mushrooms that are parts of traditional medicine in Asia had been extensively studied and this has led to identification of their bioactive ingredients. North America, while home to one of the world's largest and diverse ecological systems, has not subjected its natural resources especially its diverse array of mushroom species for bioprospecting purposes: Are mushrooms native to North America a good source for drug discovery? In this review, we compile all the published studies up to September 2020 on the bioprospecting of North American mushrooms. Out of the 79 species that have been investigated for medicinal properties, 48 species (60%) have bioactivities that have not been previously reported. For a mere 16 selected species, 17 new bioactive compounds (10 small molecules, six polysaccharides and one protein) have already been isolated. The results from our literature search suggest that mushrooms native to North America are indeed a good source for drug discovery.

Gano oil: A novel antinociceptive agent extracted from Ganoderma lucidum inhibits paw oedema and relieves pain by hypnotic and analgesic actions of fatty acid amides

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lingzhi or Reishi - Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst is an extensively used medicinal mushroom in folklore and traditional medicine in south East Asia to treat a number of diseases. Lingzhi is known as 'mushroom of immortality' in Chinese folklore. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is considered as a panacea to cure all diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to evaluate antinociceptive effect of Gano oil, a novel fatty acid rich extract obtained from G. lucidum and identification of the active principle.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Gano oil extracted from Ganoderma lucidum was evaluated for inhibition of formalin-induced paw oedema on Swiss albino mice by oral administration as well as topical application. Antinociceptive activity of Gano oil was tested by acetic acid - induced abdominal writhing test as well as hot plate test. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH assay. COX enzyme inhibiting activity was assayed using different concentrations of Gano oil exposed to LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cell line. NF-kB inhibiting activity of Gano oil was assayed using Lentix-293T P65 Ds Red stable cell line by fluorescent imaging and flow cytometry analysis. Chemical profile of Gano oil was ascertained by HPTLC analysis and active principle was identified by HRLCMS analysis.

RESULTS

The oral administration of Gano oil at doses of 10,25, 50 mg/kg b.wt showed 42, 58 and 73% inhibition of paw oedema while topical applications at dose of 1,5 and 10% reduced 33, 50 and 58% oedema respectively. Acetic acid writhing test showed that Gano oil inhibited 44.44% contortions (p < 0.001) and while in hot plate method Gano oil at 25 mg/kg b. wt showed response latency of 30.0 ± 2.08 s for 120 min compared to base 1.65 ± 0.32 s (p < 0.01). Gano oil at 100 μg/ml inhibited 50% COX enzyme activity (p < 0.01). High throughput flurescent imaging and flow cytometry assay revealed marked ability of Gano oil to inhibit NF-kB activity. Gano oil was found to possess dose dependent free radical scavenging activity as evident from DPPH assay. HPTLC analysis of Gano oil indicated the chemical figure print. HR LC-MS analysis showed the major chemical components were fatty acid amides namely, Oleamide, C₁₈H₃₅NO, M⁺281, Hexadecanamide, C₁₆H₃₃NO, M⁺255 and 9-oxo-10 (E) Octadecadienoic acid, C₁₈H₃₀O₃ M⁺294.

CONCLUSION

Fatty acid rich Gano oil extracted from G.lucidum is a novel antinociceptive agent capable to inhibit oedema by oral administration as well as topical application. The results indicate the pharmacological interest, clinical significance and therapeutic use. The finding suggests that Gano oil might be a potent natural product based analgesic. The effect might be assigned to the fatty acid amide constituents especially oleamide which has been demonstrated to have analgesic and hypnotic actions.

Enhancement of the Anti-inflammatory Effect of Bromelain by Its Immobilization on Probiotic Spore of Bacillus cereus

The therapeutic application of bromelain is limited due to its sensitivity to operating conditions such as high acidity, gastric proteases in the stomach juice, chemicals, organic solvents and elevated temperature. We hypothesized that bromelain immobilized on probiotic bacterial spores would show enhanced therapeutic activity through possible synergistic or additive effects. In this study, the oedema inhibition potential of bromelain immobilized on probiotic Bacillus spores was compared to the free enzyme using the carrageenan paw oedema model with Wistar rats. In batch A rats (carrageenan-induced inflammation 30 min after receiving oral treatments), group 7 rats treated with a lower dose of spore-immobilized bromelain suspension showed the highest oedema inhibition, 89.20 ± 15.30%, while group 4 treated with a lower dose of free bromelain had oedema inhibition of 60.25 ± 13.00%. For batch B rats (carrageenan-induced inflammation after receiving oral treatment for three days), group 7 rats treated with a lower dose of spore-immobilized bromelain suspension showed higher inhibition percentage (81.94 ± 8.86) than group 4 treated with a lower dose of free bromelain (78.45 ± 4.46) after 24 h. Our results showed that used alone, the enzyme and the spores produced oedema inhibition and improved the motility of the rats. The spore-immobilized bromelain formulation performed approximately 0.9-fold better than the free bromelain and the free spores at the lower evaluated dose.

Identification of the core active structure of a Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide and its protective effect against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis via alleviating gut microbiota dysbiosis

It has been claimed that Dendrobium officinale applied as a functional food in China for centuries derived from the excellent anti-inflammatory activities. Herein, we aim to investigate the core structure of a Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) based on the linear structural features by a specific endo-β-1,4-mannanase which was required for the protective effect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Structure characterization revealed that enzymatic fragment contained the core domain (EDOP) which was composed of glucose and mannose in the molar ratio of 1.00:4.76, and consisted of (1 → 4)-β-D-Glcp and (1 → 4)-β-D-Manp with some attached 2-O-acetylated groups. In colitis mice, both DOP and EDOP could dramatically attenuate the clinical signs via blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and their related mRNA), restoring the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), activating the G-protein coupled receptors (GPRs) and modulating the gut microbiota. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is currently considered to be an important factor affecting colitis. The treatment of DOP and EDOP could recall the diversity of gut microbiota and modulate the abundance of the gut microbiota, including increasing the abundance of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Ruminococcaceae and reducing the abundance of Proteobacteria. Our findings have suggested that EDOP, as a core domain of DOP, retained similar structural features together with anti-inflammatory activity with DOP, and they could be potentially applied as natural candidates in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Differences in anti-inflammatory properties of water soluble and insoluble bioactive polysaccharides in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages

β-Linked polysaccharides including β-glucans are well known to be important functional ingredients, and are known to possess immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties and participating receptor of water soluble and insoluble bioactive polysaccharides from Grifola frondosa (GFP, non-digestible water soluble polysaccharides), Laminaria digitata (laminarin, a water soluble β-glucan) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (zymosan, a water insoluble β-glucan) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated parental and Dectin-1 highly expressing RAW264.7 macrophages. Results showed that GFP and laminarin significantly inhibited nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, but only the GFP with high molecular weight exhibited strong inhibition on pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. The activation of NF-κB was also significantly down-regulated by GFP treatment as compared with cells treated with LPS alone. Although GFP and laminarin were able to bind to β-glucan receptor Dectin-1, there was no relationship between the inhibitory potency and the content of β-glucans in GFP, and these inhibitory effects were not affected by the expression level of Dectin-1 in macrophage cells. In contrast, zymosan significantly intensified LPS-induced inflammatory responses through Dectin-1. In conclusion, these results suggest that the inhibitory effects of water soluble polysaccharides on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediator production in murine macrophages may not involve β-glucan receptor Dectin-1.

Antiviral activity of basidiomycetous fungi against Groundnut bud necrosis virus in tomato

Tomato is an important vegetable crop which is severely affected by Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV). Until now effective antiviral agents have not been reported for the management of necrosis disease caused by GBNV. Therefore, a study was undertaken to manage the necrosis disease caused by GBNV using culture filtrate of basidiomycetous fungi viz., Coprinopsiscinerea, Ganoderma lucidum and Lentinula edodes. In vitro studies were conducted in the indicator host cowpea and primary host tomato in glasshouse under insect proof condition; co-inoculation spraying of culture filtrate of Ganoderma lucidum at 0.1% concentration reduced the lesion numbers and inhibited the virus population build-up when compared to inoculated control in the indicator host cowpea upto 77.83%. DAC-ELISA test was performed to quantify the virus titre, indicated reduced virus titre in co- inoculation spray of culture filtrate of G. lucidum treated cowpea with OD value 0.17 ± 0.01 at 405 nm and in tomato plants 0.14 ± 0.01 respectively. The viral copy numbers were quantified by qPCR. About 2.0 × 10¹ viral copy numbers were observed in tomato plants treated with G. lucidum (co-inoculation) which was lesser than untreated inoculated control plants (2.4 × 10⁸). In order to identify the antiviral properties of G. lucidum, GCMS analysis was carried out and we found the triterpenoid compound Squalene. This is the first study to analyse and confirm the antiviral activity of G. lucidum against a plant virus.

The Effects of Fungal Feed Additives in Animals: A Review

As probiotics, fungi enhance animal health and are suitable animal feed additives. In addition to brewing fungi, there are also edible and medicinal fungi. Common fungi utilized in feeding programs include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus oryzae, Pleurotus spp., Antrodia cinnamomea, and Cordyceps militaris. These fungi are rich in glucans, polysaccharides, polyphenols, triterpenes, ergosterol, adenosine, and laccases. These functional components play important roles in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and immune system regulation. As such, fungal feed additives could be of potential use when breeding livestock. In previous studies, fungal feed additives enhanced body weight and egg production in poultry and improved the feed conversion rate. Several mycotoxins can be produced by hazardous fungi but fortunately, the cell walls constituents and enzymes of fungal probiotics can also act to decrease the toxicity of mycotoxins. Overall, fungal feed additives are of value, but their safety and usage must be studied further, including cost-benefit economic analyses.

Evaluation of the probiotic attributes of Bacillus strains isolated from traditional fermented African locust bean seeds (Parkia biglobosa), “daddawa”

Background

The involvement of probiotic cultures in food fermentation guarantees enhanced organoleptic properties and maximum consumer health benefits. In this study, isolated Bacillus cultures used in the fermentation of African locust bean seeds “Parkia biglobosa” into the food condiment “daddawa” were evaluated for probiotic attributes. Bacillus cereus strains BC1 and BC2 were tested for tolerance to acid, common salt (NaCl), and bile salt. Auto-aggregation and adhesion to epithelial cells, antibiotic sensitivity profile, hemolytic pattern, and antibacterial activity were also evaluated. To demonstrate further health benefit, spores of strain BC1 were investigated for anti-inflammatory potential employing the rat paw edema technique.

Results

Both Bacillus cereus strains showed antagonistic activity against pathogenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. BC1 was more acid-stress tolerant than BC2, maintaining 107.6% viability after 3 h incubation in MRS broth of pH 2.5. However, at 97.74% viability after incubation for 3 h, BC2 was more tolerant to 0.4 % bile salt. The Bacillus cereus strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested with the exception of norfloxacin and thrived under high saline stress. Both strains were protease producers and non-hemolytic on sheep blood agar. The edema inhibition study revealed that spores of Bacillus cereus strain BC1 had anti-inflammation potential and produced no physiological toxicity on the animals.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the Bacillus cultures for “daddawa” production are good candidates for probiotics and have the potential for application in both animal and human formulations for increased health benefit to consumers.

Lentinula edodes as a Source of Bioelements Released into Artificial Digestive Juices and Potential Anti-inflammatory Material

Lentinula edodes (shiitake), an edible and medicinal mushroom, was chosen for this study with the aim of evaluating the possibility of release of bioelements into artificial digestive juices and analyzing the anti-inflammatory properties. The extracts were prepared from fruiting bodies and biomass enriched with copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se). The content of bioelements was analyzed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence method. Relatively low content of elements was observed in the fruiting bodies: Cu-1.6, Zn-7.6, and Se-0.12 mg/100 g d.w. compared to mycelial cultures. The anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells. Based on the levels of cyclooxygenase 2 protein, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ determined using Western blot technique, it was found that the addition of bioelements enhanced the anti-inflammatory properties of mycelium. This indicates that L. edodes cultured on a suitable medium may be used as a potential component of anti-inflammatory products.

Optimization of Polysaccharide Production from Cordyceps militaris by Solid-State Fermentation on Rice and Its Antioxidant Activities

Polysaccharides are an important class of bioactive components of medical mushroom and herbs and are now used as natural drugs or dietary supplements on a global scale. In this paper, we aimed to increase the polysaccharide production of Cordyceps militaris and the antioxidant activities of fermented rice by solid-state fermentation. The media components and culture condition were optimized by orthogonal design and mono-factor tests using rice as the raw material. The optimal media consisted of (g/L): rice (50), fructose (7), glycerin (7), peptone (1), MgCl₂ (0.11), VB₁ (0.05), VB₂ (0.05), CaCl₂ (1.5), corn bran (6), and a water-materials ratio of 100%. The fermentation condition was as follows: inoculum volume of 5.5% (v/w), rice weight of 50 g in one bowl with a diameter of 120 mm and a depth of 90 mm, incubation temperature of 26 °C, and incubation time of seven days. Under the optimized condition, the maximal C. militaris polysaccharide content and free radical scavenging ratio were 68.3 mg/g dry substrate and 98.9%, respectively. This study provides a new strategy for the production of healthy food from traditional food.

Purification, characterization, and bioactivity of two new polysaccharide fractions from Thelephora ganbajun mushroom

Two new polysaccharide fractions (TZP1-1 and TZP2-1) were obtained from the fruiting bodies of Thelephora ganbajun using DEAE-52 cellulose and Superdex 200 columns chromatography. The physiochemical characterization and biological activities of TZP1-1 and TZP2-1 were investigated. The relative molecular weight of TZP1-1 and TZP2-1 were 2.07 × 10⁶ and 4,886 Da, respectively. TZP1-1 included mannose, rhamnose, galactose, and xylose (4:1:83.9:7.5), while TZP2-1 included mannose, glucose, galactose, and xylose (5.4:1:79.0:8.1). The Congo red experiment results confirmed that TZP2-1 had triple helix conformation. Furthermore, both TZP1-1 and TZP2-1 showed a certain cytotoxicity on HeLa and SH-SY5Y cells, while they exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on HeLa than SH-SY5Y. Besides, the cytotoxicity of TZP1-1 was better than that of TZP2-1. Moreover, both of them exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase. These findings could promote the application of polysaccharides from T. ganbajun. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Thelephora ganbajun is an edible fungus widely distributed in Southwestern China. T. ganbajun polysaccharides as important active ingredients have not been reported. In this current study, two polysaccharides fractions (TZP1-1 and TZP2-1) were characterized, and their cytotoxicities and antidiabetic effect were also assayed. These findings could promote polysaccharides from T. ganbajun to be better application.

Polysaccharides of mushroom Pleurotus spp.: New extraction techniques, biological activities and development of new technologies

The biodiversity of mushrooms Pleurotus spp. is impressive due to its complexity and diversity related to the composition of chemical structures such as polysaccharides, glycoproteins and secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids and betalains. Recent studies of polysaccharides and their structural elucidation have helped to direct research and development of technologies related to pharmacological action, production of bioactive foods and application of new, more sophisticated extraction tools. The diversity of bioactivities related to these biopolymers, their mechanisms and routes of action are constant focus of researches. The elucidation of bioactivities has helped to formulate new vaccines and targeted drugs. In this context, in terms of polysaccharides and the diversity of mushrooms Pleurotus spp., this review seeks to revisit the genus, making an updated approach on the recent discoveries of polysaccharides, new extraction techniques and bioactivities, emphasising on their mechanisms and routes in order to update the reader on the recent technologies related to these polymers.

Roles of Lentinula edodes as the pork lean meat replacer in production of the sausage

The effects of substituting pork lean meat with Lentinula edodes (LE) on the physicochemical properties, amino acid content, cooking loss, texture, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, microstructure, microbiological analysis, and sensory characteristics of sausages were evaluated. Five formulations were used in the production of sausages: the control (the pork lean meat formulation) and the four different samples in which LE substituted 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of pork lean meat. The results showed that LE improved the moisture, total dietary fiber, methionine, glutamic, cysteine, and total phenolic content; cooking loss; and antioxidant activity of the sausage. By contrast, LE reduced the levels of protein, ash, pH, as well as the energy level and texture of the sausage. No difference was observed between the treatments for fat content, water activity and microorganisms of sausages. In addition, LE led to slight darkening of the sausages. From the sensory point of view, all modified sausages were considered acceptable, and the pork lean meat with 25% substitution by LE exhibited best sensory characteristics. In a word, LE is a promising ingredient to partially replace the lean meat in sausages.