Detrimental and essential elements in fruiting bodies of wild-growing fungi Coprinus comatus, Flammulina velutipes, and Armillaria ostoyae

Edible medicinal wild-growing fungi Coprinus comatus, Flammulina velutipes, and Armillaria ostoyae were analyzed with regard to the contents of 21 elements in their fruiting bodies. The samples were collected from selected sites in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic. C. comatus concentrated Ag, Cd, Cu, Se, and Rb with bioconcentration factors of 12, 2.5, 2.3, 1.8, and 1.1, respectively. High contents (all values expressed in mg kg^-1 dry matter) of Al (260), Ca (480), Cu (61), Fe (340), Mg (1400), and Zn (86) were determined for this species. F. velutipes was characterized with markedly high contents of Ca (360), Fe (110), Mg (1200), Mn (26), and Zn (98), respectively. A considerably high content of Ag (5.6) was revealed for A. ostoyae. High contents of Ca (150), Cu (28), Fe (190), Mg (1100), Mn (30), and Zn (40) were determined in fruiting bodies of this species as well. The data concerning the detrimental elements in fruiting bodies of studied fungi indicate no considerably negative effect on human health if they are consumed as a delicacy or used in alternative medicine.

Proteins and polysaccharides from vegetative mycelium of medicinal basidiomycete Lentinus edodes display cytotoxicity towards human and animal cancer cell lines

Detection and study of biologically active compounds seems a promising area of research in cancer diagnostics and therapies. The glycoprotein and polysaccharide fractions showing high cytotoxicity towards several human and animal cancer cell lines: A549, Hep-2, HeLa, С6 and SPEV-2 were isolated from basidiomycete Lentinus edodes vegetative mycelium and fruiting body and further characterized. It was found that water-soluble glycoprotein fractions caused the most significant, 70-100% inhibition of metabolic activity of SPЕV-2, А549 and С6 cell lines. The effective concentrations of glycoprotein fractions reducing the viability of cancer cell lines were determined. The protein and subunit composition of fractions was studied; the highly active galactose-specific lectins were found to be present in these fractions. Comparative analysis of transcriptomes of L. edodes vegetative mycelium, fruiting body and primordium revealed the presence of carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins (lectins) specific for each stage of basidiomycete morphogenesis. Histological examination revealed some morphological indicators of immune system activation and the absence of toxic effect on gastro-intestinal mucosa of animals at peroral administration of fungal glycoprotein fractions. Fungal protein and, in particular, lectin preparations derived from L. еdodes vegetative mycelium might be considered as novel prospective tools in cancer diagnostics and therapies.

Treasures from the forest: Evaluation of mushroom extracts as anti-cancer agents

Mushrooms provide a reliable source of bioactive compounds and have numerous nutritional values, which is one of the reasons why they are widely used for culinary purposes. They may also be a remedy for several medical conditions, including cancer diseases. Given the constantly increasing number of cancer incidents, the great anticancer potential of mushrooms has unsurprisingly become an object of interest to researchers. Therefore, this review aimed to collect and summarize all the available scientific data on the anti-cancer activity of mushroom extracts. Our research showed that mushroom extracts from 92 species, prepared using 12 different solvents, could reduce the viability of 38 various cancers. Additionally, we evaluated different experimental models: in vitro (cell model), in vivo (mice and rat model, case studies and randomized controlled trials), and in silico. Breast cancer proved to be sensitive to the highest number of mushroom extracts. The curative mechanisms of the studied mushrooms consisted in: inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, unregulated proportion of cells in cell cycle phases, induction of autophagy and phagocytosis, improved response of the immune system, and induction of apoptotic death of cells via upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes. The processes mainly involved the expression of caspases -3, -8, -9, AKT, p27, p53, BAX, and BCL2. The quoted results could lead to the classification of mushrooms as nutraceuticals used to prevent a variety of disorders or to support treatment of cancer diseases.

Mushrooms as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer: Evaluation of anti-glioma effects of Coprinus comatus, Cantharellus cibarius, Lycoperdon perlatum and Lactarius deliciosus extracts

Cancer incidence rates are on the increase worldwide. The most common brain cancer in adults is glioblastoma. Currently available treatment modalities are limited and natural products such as mushrooms could enhance them. Apart from nutritional value, mushrooms are an excellent source of bioactive compounds and therefore could be used to treat various disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the anti-glioma potential of selected mushrooms on U87MG, LN-18 glioblastoma and SVGp12 normal human astroglial cell lines. The materials were Cantharellus cibarius, Coprinus comatus, Lycoperdon perlatum and Lactarius delicious. Aqueous, 70 % ethanol or 95 % ethanol extracts from mushrooms were used for analysis including assessment of antioxidant activity by DPPH assay, cell viability by MTT assay, DNA biosynthesis by thymidine incorporation assay, activity of metalloproteinase by gelatin zymography and cell cycle assay by flow cytometry. Mushroom extracts influenced the viability and DNA biosynthesis of cancer cells. Activity of ethanol mushroom extracts was stronger than that of aqueous extracts. Anti-glioma mechanism consisted in inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis associated with arrest of cells in subG1 or G2/M phase of cell cycle, and inhibition of metalloproteinases activity. Among investigated mushrooms, L. deliciosus and C. comatus showed the greatest anti-glioma potential.

The two faces of Coprinus comatus-Functional properties and potential hazards

Mushrooms have been used for centuries not only as food but also in traditional medicine as a source of components with pro‐health activity. One of them is Coprinus comatus (O.F.Müll.) Pers. also called shaggy mane, chicken drumstick mushroom, or lawyer's wig. In Asian countries, C. comatus (CC) is approved as edible mushroom and often cultivated for consumption, whereas in many other countries, although it is widespread, it is unrecognized and not used. In this review, for the first time, we discussed about the composition related to functional properties as well as the potential risks associated with consumption of CC by reviewing scientific literature. The information has been collected in order to get to know this species thoroughly. Various studies show many of the physiological activities, such as antioxidant, anticancer, antiandrogenic, hepatoprotective, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antiobesity, antibacterial, antifungal, antinematode, and antiviral. Besides positive physiological properties, CC has also negative features, for example, skin reactions in patients with dermatitis and atopic predisposition, risk of confusion with poisonous mushrooms, quick autolysis after collection, and contamination of toxic elements.

Fatty Acids Predominantly Affect Anti-Hydroxyl Radical Activity and FRAP Value: The Case Study of Two Edible Mushrooms

Compared to plants, nowadays mushrooms attract more attention as functional foods, due to a number of advantages in manipulating them. This study aimed to screen the chemical composition (fatty acids and phenolics) and antioxidant potential (OH•, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)) of two edible mushrooms, Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum, collected from nature and submerged cultivation. Partial least square regression analysis has pointed out the importance of some fatty acids—more precisely, unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) followed by fatty acids possessing both short (C6:0 and C8:0) and long (C23:0 and C24:0) saturated chains—and phenolic compounds (such as protocatechuic acid, daidzein, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, genistein and vanillic acid) for promising anti-OH•, FRAP and anti-DPPH• activities, respectively. However, other fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0 and C18:3n3) along with the flavonol isorhamnetin are actually suspected to negatively affect (by acting pro-oxidative) the aforementioned parameters, respectively. Taken together, design of new food supplements targeting oxidative stress might be predominantly based on the various UFAs combinations (C18:2n6, C20:1, C20:2, C20:4n6, C22:2, C22:1n9, etc.), particularly if OH• is suspected to play an important role.

First report of a cross-kingdom pathogenic bacterium, Achromobacter xylosoxidans isolated from stipe-rot Coprinus comatus

Coprinus comatus is an edible mushroom widely cultivated in China as a delicious food. Various diseases have occurred on C. comatus with the cultivated area increasing. In this study, the pathogenic bacterium JTG-B1, identified as Achromobacter xylosoxidans by 16S rDNA and nrdA gene sequencing, was isolated from edible mushroom Coprinus comatus with serious rot disease on its stipe. A. xylosoxidans has been confirmed as an important opportunistic human pathogenic bacterium and has been isolated from respiratory samples from cystic fibrosis. It is widely distributed in the environment. Here, we first report that fungi can also serve as a host for A. xylosoxidans. We confirmed that it can cross-kingdom infect between animals (mice) and fungi (C. comatus). The results of pathogenicity tests, physiological, biochemical and genotyping analysis of A. xylosoxidans from different hosts suggested that different strain of A. xylosoxidans may have pathogenicity differentiation. A. xylosoxidans not only is pathogenic to C. comatus but also may threaten human health.

Sustained proliferation in cancer: Mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets

Proliferation is an important part of cancer development and progression. This is manifest by altered expression and/or activity of cell cycle related proteins. Constitutive activation of many signal transduction pathways also stimulates cell growth. Early steps in tumor development are associated with a fibrogenic response and the development of a hypoxic environment which favors the survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells. Part of the survival strategy of cancer stem cells may manifested by alterations in cell metabolism. Once tumors appear, growth and metastasis may be supported by overproduction of appropriate hormones (in hormonally dependent cancers), by promoting angiogenesis, by undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition, by triggering autophagy, and by taking cues from surrounding stromal cells. A number of natural compounds (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol, brassinin, sulforaphane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, ellagitannins, lycopene and quercetin) have been found to inhibit one or more pathways that contribute to proliferation (e.g., hypoxia inducible factor 1, nuclear factor kappa B, phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt, insulin-like growth factor receptor 1, Wnt, cell cycle associated proteins, as well as androgen and estrogen receptor signaling). These data, in combination with bioinformatics analyses, will be very important for identifying signaling pathways and molecular targets that may provide early diagnostic markers and/or critical targets for the development of new drugs or drug combinations that block tumor formation and progression.