Assessment of the prebiotic potential and bioactive components of common edible mushrooms in India and formulation of synbiotic microcapsules

Antioxidant capacity of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm influenced by growth substrates

Functional constituents are the main concern in food production and consumption. Because foods rich in functional constituents have antioxidant capacity and are important in keeping consumers healthy. Pleurotus ostreatus is among foods rich in functional constituents. However, its functional constituents are affected by various factors. This study compared the antioxidant capacity of P. ostreatus grown on different substrates: straws of tef (Trt1), barley (Trt2), and wheat (Trt3), husks of faba bean (Trt4), and field pea (Trt5), sawdust (Trt6), and the mixture of the above with 1:1 w/w (Trt7). Trt7 had significantly higher radical scavenging activity (RSA) (73.27%), vitamin C (10.61 mg/100 g), and vitamin D (4.92 mg/100 g) compared to other treatments. Whereas the lowest values of RSA (44.24%), vitamin C (5.39 mg/100 g), and vitamin D (1.21 mg/100 g) were found in Trt2. The results indicated that mixed substrate may be a good growth substrate for functionally beneficial P. ostreatus and could be a promising source of natural antioxidants.

An Overview on Mushroom Polysaccharides: Health-promoting Properties, Prebiotic and Gut Microbiota Modulation Effects and Structure-function Correlation

Mushroom polysaccharides are recognized as "biological response modifiers". Besides several bioactivities, a growing interest in their prebiotic potential has been raised due to the gut microbiota modulation potential. This review comprehensively summarizes mushroom polysaccharides' biological properties, structure-function relationship, and underlying mechanisms. It provides a recent overview of the key findings in the field (2018-2024). Key findings and limitations on structure-function correlation are discussed. Although most studies focus on β-glucans or extracts, α-glucans and chitin have gained interest. Prebiotic capacity has been associated with α-glucans and chitin, while antimicrobial and wound healing potential is attributed to chitin. However, further research is of utmost importance. Human fecal fermentation is the most reported approach to assess prebiotic potential, indicating impacts on intestinal biological, mechanical, chemical and immunological barriers. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been directly connected with intestinal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological diseases. Concerning gut microbiota modulation, animal experiments have suggested proinflammatory cytokines reduction and redox balance re-establishment. Most literature focused on the anticancer and immunomodulatory potential. However, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, hypocholesterolemic, antilipidemic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties are discussed. A significant overview of the gaps and research directions in synergistic effects, underlying mechanisms, structure-function correlation, clinical trials and scientific data is also given.

Mushroom as Prebiotics: a Sustainable Approach for Healthcare

Mushrooms are considered as sustainable foods as they require less effort and can be cultivated on different agro-industrial wastes. Besides, these possess many nutraceuticals for providing health benefits along with supplementing nutrition. The mushrooms are also used as prebiotics for their ability to support beneficial microbes in the gut and inhibit the growth of pathogens. Furthermore, these remain undigested in the upper gut and reach the intestine to replenish the gut microbiota. The mushrooms boost health by inhibiting the binding of pathogenic bacteria, by promoting the growth of specific gut microbiota, producing short chain fatty acids, and regulating lipid metabolism and cancer. Research has been initiated in the commercial formulation of various products such as yogurt and symbiotic capsules. This paper sheds light on health-promoting effect, disease controlling, and regulating effect of mushroom prebiotics. This paper also presented a glimpse of commercialization of mushroom prebiotics. In the future, proper standardization of mushroom-based prebiotic formulations will be available to boost human health.

Modulation of the Gut Microbiota with Prebiotics and Antimicrobial Agents from Pleurotus ostreatus Mushroom

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm mushroom contains bioactive compounds with both antimicrobial and prebiotic properties, which are distributed in the mushroom mycelium, fruiting body, and spent substrate. The mushroom is rich in nondigestible carbohydrates like chitin and glucan, which act as prebiotics and support the growth and activity of beneficial gut bacteria, thereby maintaining a healthy balance of gut microbiota and reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. The bioactive compounds in P. ostreatus mushrooms, including polysaccharides (glucans, chitin) and secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and lectins), exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. When mushrooms are consumed, these compounds can help preventing the growth and spread of harmful bacteria in the gut, reducing the risk of infections and the development of antibiotic resistance. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to determine the efficacy of P. ostreatus against different pathogens and to fully comprehend its prebiotic and antimicrobial properties. Overall, consuming a diet rich in mushroom-based foods can have a positive impact on human digestion health. A mushroom-based diet can support a healthy gut microbiome and reduce the need for antibiotics.

Characterization and identification of inulin from Pachyrhizus erosus and evaluation of its antioxidant and in-vitro prebiotic efficacy

Inulin is the polysaccharide obtained from different plant sources i.e. Wheat, Chicory, Jerusalem artichoke and Dahlia. In this study, Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) is used to isolate inulin using the microwave heating. The 1H NMR study reveals the presence of fructose and glucose unit which is the backbone of inulin. Further FT-IR and Raman confirmed the functional groups present in inulin. The UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis depicts the purity of the isolated inulin. The shape and size of the extracted inulin was determined from scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering appeared as flat-flakes and 135 nm respectively. X-ray diffractogram showed semi-crystalline nature suggesting the stability of the extracted inulin. The isolated inulin has phenolic and flavonoid content of 8.1804 ± 6.26 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and 14.387 ± 4.192 mg rutin equivalent/g of dried polysaccharide respectively. The inhibition percentage of DPPH and FRAP of isolated inulin were found to be 75.74 ± 4.5% and 0.11 ± 0.007 respectively. The isolated inulin promotes the growth of probiotics like Enterococcus faecium (MZ540315) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (MZ540317). All the analysis suggest the isolated inulin has good prebiotic potential as the commercially available one. The current study proposes that isolated inulin can be used as a prebiotic in the future.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05619-6.

Assessment of nutrient contents and bio-functional activities of edible fungus bio-fortified with copper, lithium and zinc

Bio-enrichment of edible mushrooms is an outstanding strategy to deliver essential nutrients to human. In this study, an edible fungus; Pleurotus pulmonarius was cultivated on spent mushroom substrate (SMS) supplemented with copper, lithium, and zinc. Proximate and mineral analysis of cultivated mushroom was determined using methods of AOAC. Antimicrobial activity of cultivated mushroom was assessed against microorganisms using agar well diffusion. Antioxidant property of mushroom was assessed against free radicals. Similar (p ≤ 0.05) protein contents of 18.93%, 18.80% and 17.90% were respectively obtained in P. pulmonarius biofortified with Cu + Li + Zn, Cu + Zn and Zn. Crude fibre in element fortified-mushroom ranged from 9.02 to 10.11%, while non-fortified mushroom was 8.66%. Copper content of P. pulmonarius fortified with Cu alone and Cu + Zn were 96.12 mg/100 g and 98.09 mg/100 g, respectively. Mushroom fortified with Zn has the highest zinc content of 520.15 mg/100 g. Mushroom fortified with Li and Li + Zn have a similar (p ≤ 0.05) Li content of 106.02 mg/100 g and 104.30 mg/100 g, respectively. Extract from mushroom-fortified with copper has the highest zone of inhibition (15.1 mm) against Klebsiella pneumoniae at 1.0 mg/ml. Mushroom fortified with Cu + Li + Zn and Li + Zn, respectively have similar (p ≤ 0.05) scavenging activities of 79.10 and 81.0% against DPPH. Mushroom fortified with Zn or Zn + Cu enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum. Antimicrobial, antioxidant and prebiotic activities of fortified-mushroom could be attributed to arrays of phytochemicals and bio-accumulated elements. Hence, bio-fortified mushrooms can be used as functional foods and as biopharmaceuticals to treat ailments associated with nutrient deficient.

Functional Fermented Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics from Non-Dairy Products: A Perspective from Nutraceutical

The current trend of health-conscious consumers and healthy food habits prompts researchers to explore developing food products with synbiotic benefits. Synbiotic foods have gained popularity in recent years due to their functional, nutritional, physiological, and therapeutic characteristics. Lactose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and allergic milk proteins become the barriers in the development of dairy probiotics. The present scenario of an increase in the demand for vegetarian products leads to a rise in the consumption of non-dairy probiotics. Prebiotics like, resistant starch, inulin, and polyphenols are selectively used by gut microbiota to enhance the selection and colonization of probiotics bacteria. Probiotic's action mechanisms include the production of bacteriocins, peptides, short-chain fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and other metabolites. Therefore, this review article explores the alternative sources of probiotics so it will help to an understanding of non-dairy based functional fermented foods for both pro and prebiotics. Dietary fibers in vegetables, fruits, and cereals are one of prospective prebiotics and highlighted the various methods for making non-dairy synbiotics based on dietary fibers, such as microencapsulation, freeze-drying, and spray drying is also addressed.

Edible Mushrooms for Sustainable and Healthy Human Food: Nutritional and Medicinal Attributes

Global food production faces many challenges, including climate change, a water crisis, land degradation, and desertification. These challenges require research into non-traditional sources of human foods. Edible mushrooms are considered an important next-generation healthy food source. Edible mushrooms are rich in proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive components (alkaloids, lactones, polysaccharides, polyphenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, sterols, and terpenoids). Several bioactive ingredients can be extracted from edible mushrooms and incorporated into health-promoting supplements. It has been suggested that several human diseases can be treated with extracts from edible mushrooms, as these extracts have biological effects including anticancer, antidiabetic, antiviral, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immune-potentiating, and hypo-cholesterolemic influences. The current study focuses on sustainable approaches for handling edible mushrooms and their secondary metabolites, including biofortification. Comparisons between edible and poisonous mushrooms, as well as the common species of edible mushrooms and their different bioactive ingredients, are crucial. Nutritional values and the health benefits of edible mushrooms, as well as different biomedical applications, have been also emphasized. Further research is needed to explore the economic sustainability of different medicinal mushroom bioactive compound extracts and their potential applications against emerging diseases such as COVID-19. New approaches such as nano-biofortification are also needed to supply edible mushrooms with essential nutrients and/or to increase their bioactive ingredients.