Investigation of the possible mechanism of polysaccharides extracted from Leucocalocybe mongolica in exerting antitumor effects in H22 tumor-bearing mice

Revolutionizing cancer treatment: Harnessing the power of terrestrial microbial polysaccharides

Cancer treatment faces numerous challenges, such as inadequate drug targeting, steep price tags, grave toxic side effects, and limited therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a safe and effective new drug to combat cancer. Microbial polysaccharides, complex and diverse biological macromolecules, exhibit significant microbial variability and uniqueness. Studies have shown that terrestrial microbial polysaccharides possess a wide range of biological activities, including immune enhancement, antioxidant properties, antiviral effects, anti-tumour potential, and hypoglycemic functions. To delve deeper into the structure-activity relationship of these land-based microbial polysaccharides against cancer, we conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of anti-cancer literature published between 2020 and 2024. The anticancer efficacy of terrestrial microbial polysaccharides is influenced by multiple factors, including the microbial species, existing form, chemical structure, and polysaccharide purity. According to the literature, an optimal molecular weight and good water solubility are essential for demonstrating anticancer activity. Furthermore, the addition of mannose and galactose has been found to significantly enhance the anticancer properties of these polysaccharides. These insights will serve as a valuable reference for future research and progress in the field of cancer drug therapy, particularly with regards to terrestrial microbial polysaccharides.

Recent advances in natural polysaccharides against hepatocellular carcinoma: A review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive system that poses a serious threat to human life and health. Chemotherapeutic drugs commonly used in the clinic have limited efficacy and heavy adverse effects. Therefore, it is imperative to find effective and safe alternatives, and natural polysaccharides (NPs) fit the bill. This paper summarizes in detail the anti-HCC activity of NPs in vitro, animal and clinical trials. Furthermore, the addition of NPs can reduce the deleterious effects of chemotherapeutic drugs such as immunotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, oxidative stress, etc. The potential mechanisms are related to induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, block of angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, stimulation of immune activity and targeting of MircoRNA. And on this basis, we further elucidate that the anti-HCC activity may be related to the monosaccharide composition, molecular weight (Mw), conformational features and structural modifications of NPs. In addition, due to its good physicochemical properties, it is widely used as a drug carrier in the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and small molecule components. This review provides a favorable theoretical basis for the application of the anti-HCC activity of NPs.

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

OBJECTIVE

Pholiota adiposa is a valuable edible and medicinal fungus. In this research, Ergosta-4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraen-3-one (ETO) was obtained from Pholiota adiposa which is the first time to study the anti-diabetic and related mechanism.

METHODS

Ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one (ETO) was defined by IR and NMR. Relevant biochemical indicators were detected by ELISA assay, hematoxylin-eosin staining (H & E), fasting glucose levels (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), tissue homogenate biochemical measurements, immunohistochemical staining and western blot.

RESULTS

In this research, the ETO treatment groups exhibited a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, the High dose group (HD) was about 10 mmol/L lower than the diabetic control group (DC), and increase in body weight, the HD group weighed about 5 g more than the DC group on average. Also, the levels of triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were found to be decreased, while the levels of high-density superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were increased in the ETO treatment groups. The pancreatic and liver sections of diabetic control group (DC) exhibited several histopathological changes, but the ETO treatment groups exhibited improvements. ETO treatment led to the significant restoration of islet morphology and function. Moreover, the results of the western blot analysis indicate that ETO could be used for the treatment of diabetes, since it modifies part of the IRS1 / PI3K / AKT signaling pathway.

Medicinal Mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica Imai Extracts Improve Mammary Gland Differentiation in Lactating Rats via Regulating Protein Expression

Leucocalocybe mongolica is a known medicinal mushroom in China. It possesses many biological activities. This study investigated the effect of L. mongolica petroleum ether and water extracts (200, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg BW) on mammary gland differentiation during lactation. However, prolactin, growth hormone, progesterone, and estrogen levels were determined in serum by ELISA assay. Immunofluorescence, western blot, and real-time PCR were utilized to evaluate the expression levels of β-casein, α-Lactalbumin, prolactin receptor, progesterone receptor, and STAT-5a. The immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the presence of steroid receptors. The results showed that petroleum ether and water extracts increased milk yield and milk content of calcium, total fat, total carbohydrate, and total protein. Prolactin and growth hormone levels were significantly upregulated in all treated groups compared with the control group. In contrast, progesterone and estrogen were downregulated. The high doses of petroleum ether and water extracts increased the expression levels of β-Cas, α-Lactalb, PRLR, PR, and STAT-5a. The observation of histological sections showed that the extracts induced higher mammary gland differentiation than the control group. This study is the first to use mushrooms as nutritional supplements to improve milk production and mammary gland differentiation during lactation.

Influence of Pholiota adiposa on gut microbiota and promote tumor cell apoptosis properties in H22 tumor-bearing mice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of cancer-prevalent worldwide-and one of the causes of cancer-related deaths. In this study, ethanol extracts from Pholiota adiposa (EPA) were used to identify possible targets for HCC treatment and their effects on intestinal microflora were analyzed. Methods: Male mice were randomly assigned to groups-the model group, cyclophosphamide (25 mg/kg/d), and EPA groups, in which the mice were categorized based on the different concentrations of each compound (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg/day). Relevant biochemical indicators were detected using ELISA, H&E staining, and TUNEL assay. Four tumor apoptosis-related proteins and genes, Cleaved Caspases, BAX, Bcl-2, and VEGF, were detected by immunohistochemical staining, western blotting, and RT-PCR. The total genomic DNA was obtained from the contents of the small intestine and colon and was sequenced. The V3 + V4 regions of bacterial 16 s rDNA (from 341 to 806) were amplified. Results: The tests revealed that EPA exhibited antitumor activity in vivo by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. Moreover, EPA treatment could increase beneficial and decrease harmful microflorae. These results demonstrate that EPA may be a potential therapy for HCC.

Protective effects of a polysaccharide from Boletus aereus on S180 tumor-bearing mice and its structural characteristics

A polysaccharide from the aqueous extract of Boletus aereus fruit (BAP) was isolated. The antitumor activities of BAP and/or cyclophosphamide (CTX) were investigated using the model of S180 tumor-bearing mice. Results indicated that BAP could effectively inhibit the growth of S180 solid tumors and protect the immune organs. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential analysis demonstrated that BAP could induce the apoptosis of S180 tumor cells. In combination with CTX, BAP exhibited a significant synergistic antitumor effect on S180 cells. Furthermore, a novel polysaccharide, namely, BAPF, was purified from BAP by using DEAE Cellulose-52 column and Sephadex G-100 gel column. Structural characterization revealed that BAPF was primarily composed of mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and fucose at a proportion of 12.98:1:16.8:16.48:1.08:9.1. Its average molecular weight was 1.79 × 10⁶ Da. FTIR and NMR analyses demonstrated that BAPF was a pyranose with α-type and β-type glycosidic residues.