Anti-diabetic effects of fungal Ergosta-4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraen-3-one from Pholiota adiposa

Ergone Derivatives from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Aspergillus terreus YPGA10 and 25,28-Dihydroxyergone-Induced Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer SW620 Cells

Ten new ergone derivatives (1-10) and five known analogues (11-15) were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus YPGA10. The structures including the absolute configurations were established by detailed analysis of the NMR spectroscopic data, HRESIMS, ECD calculation, and coupling constant calculation. All the structures are characterized by a highly conjugated 25-hydroxyergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one nucleus. Structurally, compound 2 bearing a 15-carbonyl group and compounds 5-7 possessing a 15β-OH/OCH3 group are rarely encountered in ergone derivatives. Bioassay results showed that compounds 1 and 11 demonstrated cytotoxic effects on human colon cancer SW620 cells with IC50 values of 8.4 and 3.1 μM, respectively. Notably, both compounds exhibited negligible cytotoxicity on the human normal lung epithelial cell BEAS-2B. Compound 11 was selected for preliminary mechanistic study and was found to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in human colon cancer SW620 cells. In addition, compound 1 displayed cytotoxic activity against five human leukemia cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 5.7 to 8.9 μM. Our study demonstrated that compound 11 may serve as a potential candidate for the development of anticolorectal cancer agents.

Minor ergosteroids and a 19-nor labdane-type diterpenoid with anti-inflammatory effects from Ganoderma lucidum

A chemical investigation on the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum led to the isolation and identification of five undescribed ergosteroids including two des-D-steroids (3 and 4) and one rare 6/6/7/5-fused carbon skeletal ergosterol (5) along with one 19-nor labdane-type diterpenoid (6). Their structures including their absolute configurations, were assigned by spectroscopic methods, ECD calculations, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activities of all the isolates were evaluated. The results indicated that compound 1 can significantly down-regulate the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 at 20 μM in LPS- stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

The effects of zinc sulfate on mycelial enzyme activity and metabolites of Pholiota adiposa

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc sulphate on the activities of different enzymes and metabolites of Pholiota adiposa. In the experiment, we used the conventional enzyme activity assay to determine the changes of six indicators, including protein content, laccase activity, cellulase activity, amylase activity and polyphenol oxidase activity, under different concentrations of zinc sulphate treatment. The results showed that the activities of amylase, laccase, cellulase and peroxidase were Zn2+(200)>Zn2+(0)>Zn2+(400)>Zn2+(800).The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were Zn2+(200)>Zn2+(400)>Zn2+(800), and zinc sulfate could significantly affect the activity of polylipic squamase in a dose-dependent manner. Further correlation analysis showed that all six enzyme activities were significantly correlated with each other (P<001); the results of the statistical model test showed that the regression model constructed was statistically significant; overall the residuals met the conditions of normal distribution, and the corresponding points of different enzyme activities Q-Q' were more evenly distributed around y = x, and all fell in the 90% acceptance interval, thus the series was considered to obey normal distribution; the results of the principal The results of the principal component analysis showed that principal component 1 was positively correlated with amylase, laccase and cellulase. Principal component 2 was positively correlated with superoxide dismutase and catalase, and negatively correlated with peroxidase. The analysis of Metabonomic data revealed that zinc sulfate had a significant impact on the expression of metabolites in the mycelium. Moreover, varying concentrations of zinc sulfate exerted significant effects on the levels of amino acids, organic acids, and gluconic acid. This conclusion was confirmed by other experimental data. The results of the study provide a scientific reference for better research, development and utilization of Pholiota adiposa.

Ergosterol and Its Metabolites Induce Ligninolytic Activity in the Lignin-Degrading Fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

White-rot fungi are the most important group of lignin biodegraders. Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 has higher ligninolytic activity than that of model white-rot fungi. However, the underlying mechanism responsible for lignin degradation by white-rot fungi remains unknown, and the induced compounds isolated from white-rot fungi for lignin degradation have never been studied. In the present study, we tried to screen ligninolytic-inducing compounds produced by P. sordida YK-624. After large-scale incubation of P. sordida YK-624, the culture and mycelium were separated by filtration. After the separation and purification, purified compounds were analyzed by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The sterilized unbleached hardwood kraft pulp was used for the initial evaluation of ligninolytic activity. Ergosterol was isolated and identified and it induced the lignin-degrading activity of this fungus. Moreover, we investigated ergosterol metabolites from P. sordida YK-624, and the ergosterol metabolites ergosta-4,7,22-triene-3,6-dione and ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one were identified and then chemically synthesized. These compounds significantly improved the lignin-degrading activity of the fungus. This is the first report on the ligninolytic-inducing compounds produced by white-rot fungi.