Lanostane triterpenoids from the edible mushroom Astraeus asiaticus

Lanostane-type triterpenoids from the mycelial mat of Ganoderma lucidum and their hepatoprotective activities

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum), a well-known Polyporaceae family fungus, is valued for its edibility and medicinal properties. It is a rich source of active polysaccharides and triterpenoids. However, obtaining material for medicinal purposes relies on artificial cultivation in a greenhouse, which requires large amounts of tree trunk due to the low biomass transformation rate. Therefore, an effective and environment-friendly culture method should be developed and the chemical compounds in the cultured material should be studied. Here we report the isolation and structural elucidation of 10 undescribed lanostane triterpenoids and 21 known compounds from statically cultured mycelial mat of G. lucidum. The hepatoprotective activity of these compounds in H₂O₂-induced HepG2 cells was evaluated. The structure-activity relationship is discussed. Our results demonstrated that twelve ganoderic acid derivatives possess significant hepatoprotective activities, as judged by suppressed activities of ALT, AST and LDH and increased GSH levels in H₂O₂-injured HepG2 cells.

A critical review on submerged production of mushroom and their bioactive metabolites

Mushrooms are ubiquitous in nature. Even though humankind has been consuming mushrooms for ages, their medicinal and nutraceutical properties are not used to its fullest potential in the present market. Edible mushrooms are not only a cheap and nutritious option to mitigate malnutrition, but they also produce effective biomass. Submerged fermentation (SmF) is not only a cost-effective method to produce biomass along with exquisite bioactive metabolites but it also reduces the chances of contamination and the time of production. Therefore, this study unveils the bioactive metabolites being produced by mushrooms. Moreover, it also showcases the recent advances in the areas of bio-active compounds and their judicious implementations in daily life and pharmaceutical industries. Moreover, there is a distinct lack in utilizing the potential benefits of bioactive compounds from mushroom unless in vivo and in vitro studies are demonstrated.

New Anti-inflammatory Triterpene Esters and Glycosides from Alstonia scholaris

BACKGROUND

Phytochemical studies on the ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Alstonia scholaris lead to the isolation of two new triterpenoid of the lanostanetype, lanosta 5ene,24-ethyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), lanosta,5ene,24-ethyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosideester (2) and new ursane type triterpenoidmethylester, 12-ursene-2,3,18,19-tetrol,28 acetate (nighascholarene) (3), together with seven known triterpenes, betuline, triterpene of the lupane type, alstoprenyol (4), 3β-hydroxy-28-β-acetoxy-5-olea triterpene (5),α-amyrin acetate (6), α-amyrin (7), lupeol acetate (8), 3β-hydroxy-24-nor-urs-4,12,28-triene triterpene (9) and ursolic acid (l0).

METHODOLOGY

The triterpenoid structures of these colorless compounds were deduced from the 1H and 13C-NMR data, and in particular from the application of two-dimensional 1H, 13C correlation experiments as well as by comparison with reported literature data.

CONCLUSION

This study deals with isolation and structural elucidation of natural new triterpenoidesters and glycosides with anti-inflammatory activity.

Medicinal fungi: a source of antiparasitic secondary metabolites

Regions with a tropical climate are frequently affected by endemic diseases caused by pathogenic parasites. More than one billion people worldwide are exposed directly to tropical parasites. The literature cites several antiparasitic metabolites obtained from medicinal plants or via synthetic pathways. However, fungi produce a diversity of metabolites that play important biological roles in human well-being. Thus, they are considered a potential source of novel natural agents for exploitation in the pharmaceutical industry. In this brief review article, we will provide an overview of the current situation regarding antiparasitic molecules derived from filamentous fungi, in particular, those which are effective against protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania, vectors of some neglected tropical diseases. Diseases and parasitic agents are described and classified, and the antiparasitic properties of natural compounds produced by the fungi of the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota are reviewed herein, in order to explore a topic only sparsely addressed in the scientific literature.