Potent Anticancer Effects of Bioactive Mushroom Extracts (Phellinus linteus) on a Variety of Human Cancer Cells

Characterisation of indole alkaloids and phenolic acids from wild mushroom Tropicoporus linteus and its chemical profiles compared with other Sanghuang mushrooms

Two new indole alkaloids, 1-methylindole-7-methoxy-3-carboxaldehyde (2) and 7-methoxyindole-3-carboxaldehyde (4), together with 7-methoxyindole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1) and 1-methylindole-3-carbaldehyde (3) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of wild Sanghuang mushroom Tropicoporus linteus (TL663). TLC, 1H-NMR and LC-MS chemical profiles of this mushroom compared with other three genera of wild Sanghuang mushroom extracts were investigated. The TLC, 1H-NMR and LC-MS profiles of TL663 and Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS664) were similar and significantly different from other mushrooms. These two samples indicated the same TLC chromatograms by showing prominent bands of 1 - 4 when observed under UV 254 nm and having sharp aldehyde proton signals of 3-carboxaldehyde indole type in 1H-NMR spectra. From LC-MS analyses, peaks of isolated compounds 1 - 4 and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (5) in TL663 extract and peaks of protocatechuic acid (6), caffeic aldehyde (7), caffeic acid (8) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (9) phenolic acids in TL663 fraction were identified.

Sanghuangporus sanghuang extract inhibits the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS) has various medicinal effects, including anti-inflammation and anticancer activities. Despite the extensive research on SS, its molecular mechanisms of action on lung cancer are unclear. This study examined the impact of an SS alcohol extract (SAE) on lung cancer using in vitro and in vivo models.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Different concentrations of SAE were used to culture lung cancer cells (A549 and H1650). A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the survival ability of A549 and H1650 cells. A scratch assay and transwell cell invasion assay were used to detect the migration rate and invasive ability of SAE. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl2-associated X (Bax), cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3). Lung cancer xenograft mice were used to detect the inhibiting ability of SAE in vivo. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the effect of SAE on the structural changes to the tumor and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cyclin D1, CDK4, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in lung cancer xenograft mice.

RESULTS

SAE could inhibit lung cancer proliferation significantly in vitro and in vivo without cytotoxicity. SAE suppressed the viability, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The SAE treatment significantly decreased the proapoptotic Bcl-2/Bax ratio and the expression of pro-proliferative proteins Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, SAE also inhibited STAT3 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

SAE reduced the cell viability and suppressed cell migration and invasion in human lung cancer cells. Moreover, SAE also exhibited anti-proliferation effects in vivo. Therefore, SAE may have benefits in cancer therapy.

Effect of Smilax spp. and Phellinus linteus combination on cytotoxicity and cell proliferation of breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Although the prevalence of breast cancer (BC) has been reduced in recent years, proficient therapeutic regimens should be further investigated with the aim of further reducing the mortality rate. To obtain more effective treatment, the present study aimed to observe the effects of PL synergistically combined with Smilax corbularia and S. glabra extracts (PSS) on BC cell lines, MCF7, T47D, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468.

METHODS

The half-maximal inhibition (IC₅₀) concentrations of PSS and PL were determined in a dose- and time-dependent manner using MTT assay. The activity of PSS and PL on anti-BC proliferation was evaluated using BrdU assay, and colony formation assay. Moreover, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis induction as a result of PSS and PL exposure were investigated using propidium iodide (PI) staining and co-staining of annexin V DY634 and PI combined flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Finally, changes in the mRNA expression of genes involved in proliferative and apoptotic pathways (MKI67, HER2, EGFR, MDM2, TNFα, PI3KCA, KRAS, BAX, and CASP8) were explored using RT-qPCR following PSS and PL treatment.

RESULTS

The PSS and PL extracts exhibited significant potential in BC cytotoxicity which were in were in dose- and time-dependent response. This inhibition of cell growth was due to the suppression of cell proliferation, the cell cycle arrest, and the induction of apoptosis. Additionally, an investigation of the underlying molecular mechanism revealed that PSS and PL are involved in downregulation of the MKI67, HER2, EGFR, MDM2, TNFα, and PI3KCA expression.

CONCLUSIONS

This present study has suggested that PSS and PL possess anti-BC proliferative activity mediated via the downregulation of genes participating in the relevant pathways. PSS or PL may be combined with other agents to alleviate the adverse side effects resulted from conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.

Integrated microbiota and metabolite profiling analysis of prebiotic characteristics of Phellinus linteus polysaccharide in vitro fermentation

Phellinus linteus polysaccharide (PLP) had received increasing attention due to its multiple biological activities. Herein, the extraction, characterization and in vitro fermentation of PLP were studied to explore its physiochemical properties and the interaction mechanism between the gut microbiota and PLP. The results obtained demonstrated that PLP was mainly composed of 9 monosaccharides, with three gel chromatographic peaks and molecular weights (M_w) of 308.45 kDa, 13.58 kD and 3.33 kDa, respectively. After 48 h fermentation, the M_w, total sugar, reducing sugar, pH and monosaccharides composition were decreased. Furthermore, PLP regulated the composition of gut microbiota, such as promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides, Prevotella and Butyricimonas, while preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia-Shigella, Morganella and Intestinimonas. Gut microbiota metabolites regulated by PLP such as short-chain fatty acids were the main regulators that impact the host health. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that butyrate, bile acid and purine metabolism were the main metabolic pathways of PLP regulating host health, and the Bacteroides was the key genus to regulate these metabolic pathways. In conclusion, our finding suggested that PLP may be used as a prebiotic agent for human health because of its ability to regulate gut microbiota.

Antiangiogenic potential of Lepista nuda extract suppressing MAPK/p38 signaling-mediated developmental angiogenesis in zebrafish and HUVECs

The medicinal properties of natural/edible plant products and their use are popular in traditional practice owing to their nutritional contents with little to no side effects. Lepista nuda (L. nuda), an edible mushroom (Clitocybe nuda, commonly known as blewit), has attracted researchers to evaluate its contents and the mechanism of its activities. In the current study, we focused on evaluating the antiangiogenic effects of L. nuda water extract on zebrafish development and in vitro human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation. Bioactive components such as ergothioneine, eritadenine, and adenosine were identified and quantified by HPLC analysis. The L. nuda extract showed antiangiogenic properties and inhibited intersegmental vessel (ISV), caudal vein plexus (CVP), hyaloid vessel (HV), and subintestinal vessel (SIV) development in Tg (fli1: EGFP) zebrafish embryos. The expression of angiogenesis-related genes (vegfaa, kdrl, vegfba, flt1, kdr) was affected following L. nuda extract treatment. L. nuda extract attenuated in vitro HUVEC tube formation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, inhibition of MAPK/p38 signaling and depletion of proangiogenic genes, including growth factors (fgf, ang2, and vegfa); primary and accessory receptors (tie2, vegfr2, and eng); MMPs (mmp1 and mmp2); and cytokines (il-1α, il-1β, il-6, and tnf-α) was observed in HUVECs following L. nuda treatment. An in vivo zebrafish xenograft assay showed that L. nuda extract inhibited HuCCT1 cell-induced SIV sprouting in HuCCT1-injected embryos. Collectively, the results suggest that L. nuda could be a potential inhibitor of angiogenesis limiting cancer progression.

Enhanced Yield of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities in Four Fermented Beans of Phellinus linteus Strains (Agaricomycetes) by Solid-State Fermentation

Phellinus linteus is a famous medicinal mushroom which exhibits various biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of solid-state fermentation by Ph. linteus on the yield of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of beans. Four bean substrates were prepared and inoculated with inoculum of three strains of Ph. linteus, respectively. During the cultivation, the harvested samples were dried, grounded, extracted, and determined the contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. The results indicated that the mung bean fermented by Ph. linteus 04 had the highest polysaccharide content (98.8 mg/g). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were in fermented soybeans by Ph. linteus 03 (15.03 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 63.24 mg rutin equivalents/g, respectively). The 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities of hot water extracts were higher than those of ethanolic extracts for fermented beans by three Ph. linteus strains. However, the superoxide anion radical scavenging ability of ethanolic extracts was higher than those of hot water extracts in the fermented beans of the three strains. The ferrous ion (Fe2+)-chelating abilities of hot water extracts were higher than those of ethanolic extracts in fermented beans by Ph. linteus 03 and 04. In contrast, ethanolic extracts were higher than hot water extracts in fermented beans by Ph. linteus 06. Overall, these results indicate that the fermentation by Ph. linteus strains increased the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of four beans.

Culture Conditions for Mycelial Growth and Anti-Cancer Properties of Termitomyces

Termitomyces sp. that grow in symbiosis with fungus-farming Termites have medicinal properties. However, they are rare in nature, and their artificial culture is challenging. The expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint molecules favor the growth of cancer cells. The study evaluated the optimal conditions for the artificial culture of Termitomyces and their inhibitory activity on AXL and immune checkpoint molecules in lung adenocarcinoma and melanoma cell lines. The culture of 45 strains of Termitomyces was compared. Five strains with marked growth rates were selected. Four of the selected strains form a single cluster by sequence analysis. The mycelium of 4 selected strains produces more fungal mass in potato dextrose broth than in a mixed media. The bark was the most appropriate solid substrate for Termitomyces mycelia culture. The mycelium of all five selected strains showed a higher growth rate under normal CO₂ conditions. The culture broth, methanol, and ethyl acetate of one selected strain (T-120) inhibited the mRNA relative expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint molecules in cancer cell lines. Overall, these results suggest the potential usefulness of Termitomyces extracts as a co-adjuvant therapy in malignant diseases.

The Fairy Chemical Imidazole-4-Carboxamide Inhibits the Expression of Axl, PD-L1, and PD-L2 and Improves Response to Cisplatin in Melanoma

The leading cause of death worldwide is cancer. Many reports have proved the beneficial effect of mushrooms in cancer. However, the precise mechanism is not completely clear. In the present study, we focused on the medicinal properties of biomolecules released by fairy ring-forming mushrooms. Fairy chemicals generally stimulate or inhibit the growth of surrounding vegetation. In the present study, we evaluated whether fairy chemicals (2-azahypoxanthine, 2-aza-8-oxohypoxanthine, and imidazole-4-carboxamide) exert anticancer activity by decreasing the expression of Axl and immune checkpoint molecules in melanoma cells. We used B16F10 melanoma cell lines and a melanoma xenograft model in the experiments. Treatment of melanoma xenograft with cisplatin combined with imidazole-4-carboxamide significantly decreased the tumor volume compared to untreated mice or mice treated cisplatin alone. In addition, mice treated with cisplatin and imidazole-4-carboxamide showed increased peritumoral infiltration of T cells compared to mice treated with cisplatin alone. In vitro studies showed that all fairy chemicals, including imidazole-4-carboxamide, inhibit the expression of immune checkpoint molecules and Axl compared to controls. Imidazole-4-carboxamide also significantly blocks the cisplatin-induced upregulation of PD-L1. These observations point to the fairy chemical imidazole-4-carboxamide as a promising coadjuvant therapy with cisplatin in patients with cancer.

A review of the therapeutic and biological effects of edible and wild mushrooms

Throughout history, mushrooms have occupied an inseparable part of the diet in many countries. Mushrooms are considered a rich source of phytonutrients such as polysaccharides, dietary fibers, and other micronutrients, in addition to various essential amino acids, which are building blocks of vital proteins. In general, mushrooms offer a wide range of health benefits with a large spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiviral, antibacterial, osteoprotective, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, etc. Both wild edible and medicinal mushrooms possess strong therapeutic and biological activities, which are evident from their in vivo and in vitro assays. The multifunctional activities of the mushroom extracts and the targeted potential of each of the compounds in the extracts have a broad range of applications, especially in the healing and repair of various organs and cells in humans. Owing to the presence of the aforementioned properties and rich phytocomposition, mushrooms are being used in the production of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. This review aims to provide a clear insight on the commercially cultivated, wild edible, and medicinal mushrooms with comprehensive information on their phytochemical constituents and properties as part of food and medicine for futuristic exploitation. Future outlook and prospective challenges associated with the cultivation and processing of these medicinal mushrooms as functional foods are also discussed.

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.

Artificial Cultivation Characteristics and Bioactive Effects of Novel Tropicoporus linteus (Syn. Phellinus linteus) Strains HN00K9 and HN6036 in Korea

Phellinus strains were collected from different areas in Korea. Of them, the fast mycelial growing strains were artificially cultivated on the oak logs to produce fruiting body. The varieties, Phellinus linteus ASI26099 (Korea Sanghwang) and P. baumii PBJS (Jangsoo Sanghwang) were grown under the same conditions as controls. Their cultivating characteristics including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, and fruiting body formation rate were investigated on the logs. Basidiocarps of Phellinus strains HN00K9, HN6036, and ASI26099 were concentrically zonate and shallowly sulcate, and dark chestnut showing typical characteristics of Tropicoporus linteus (synonyum: P. linteus, Inonotus linteus, polyporus linteus), which is distinguishably different to PBJS. HN00K9 showed the highest yield of fruiting body among the mushroom strains. The β-glucan content in fruiting bodies of HN00K9 was 20% higher than those of other strains. Bioactive effects of polysaccharide samples from fruiting bodies of Phellinus strains, HN00K9, HN6036, ASI26099, and PBJS were assessed on cell viability and cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) inhibition and finally on anticancer to different human cancer cells.

Screening for proteins related to the biosynthesis of hispidin and its derivatives in Phellinus igniarius using iTRAQ proteomic analysis

Background

Hispidin (HIP) and its derivatives, a class of natural fungal metabolites, possess complex chemical structures with extensive pharmacological activities. Phellinus igniarius, the most common source of HIP, can be used as both medicine and food. However, the biosynthetic pathway of HIP in P. igniarius remains unclear and we have a limited understanding of the regulatory mechanisms related to HIP. In this work, we sought to illustrate a biosynthesis system for hispidin and its derivatives at the protein level.

Results

We found that tricetolatone (TL) is a key biosynthetic precursor in the biosynthetic pathway of hispidin and that its addition led to increased production of hispidin and various hispidin derivatives. Based on the changes in the concentrations of precursors and intermediates, key timepoints in the biosynthetic process were identified. We used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) to study dynamic changes of related proteins in vitro. The 270 differentially expressed proteins were determined by GO enrichment analysis to be primarily related to energy metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and environmental stress responses after TL supplementation. The differentially expressed proteins were related to ATP synthase, NAD binding protein, oxidoreductase, and other elements associated with electron transfer and dehydrogenation reactions during the biosynthesis of hispidin and its derivatives. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technology was used to selectively verify the iTRAQ results, leading us to screen 11 proteins that were predicted to be related to the biosynthesis pathways.

Conclution

These findings help to clarify the molecular mechanism of biosynthesis of hispidin and its derivatives and may serve as a foundation for future strategies to identify new hispidin derivatives.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-021-02134-0.

Purification and antioxidant and anti-Inflammatory activity of extracellular polysaccharopeptide from sanghuang mushroom, Sanghuangporus lonicericola

BACKGROUND

Sanghuang mushrooms are medicinal fungi widely used in eastern Asia. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of a novel extracellular polysaccharopeptide, sanghuang extracellular polysaccharopeptide (SePSP) was investigated. The SePSP was purified from the submerged fermentation broth of a sanghuang mycelium, Sanghuangporus lonicericola strain CBS17, which was isolated from a wild sanghuang fruiting body.

RESULTS

The SePSP was extracted using an ethanol precipitation procedure, followed by diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The mass ratio of the polysaccharide and peptide components in the purified SePSP was approximately 4.87:1. By determining its free radical scavenging abilities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the hydroxyl free radical, and the superoxide anion free radical, as well as its total reducing power, SePSP was shown to have strong concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in vitro. Further, SePSP effectively alleviated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. Administration of 200 mg kg^-1 SePSP by gavage for 7 days prevented body weight loss; significantly reduced the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1β; increased mRNA level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the colon, and decreased the malondialdehyde concentration from 6.42 to 4.82 μmol L^-1 in the blood in UC mice.

CONCLUSION

The SePSP had strong concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in vitro and effectively alleviated DSS-induced UC in mice. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy in DSS-induced UC may be mediated by modulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting oxidative stress. The findings provide a scientific rationale for the use of bioactive nutraceuticals from sanghuang mushrooms to develop functional foods for the prevention and treatment of UC. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhanced alcohol degradation and hepatic protective effects of an Acetobacter Pasteurianus-derived product, CureZyme-ACE, in an acute intoxication rat model

Excessive alcohol consumption induces acute intoxication and various hepatic diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of the CureZyme-ACE (CA), Acetobacter Pasteurianus (AP)-derived product, in acute intoxication rats. The ethanol and acetaldehyde levels of serum were lower in rats treated with CA than those who only treated ethanol. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase also recovered faster in the CA group than only-ethanol group. The transaminase levels (AST, ALT) in the CA group were significantly lower than only-ethanol group. In addition, Hepatic histological analyses and stomach wall were demonstrated that the CA-treated group recovered faster than only-ethanol group. With regard to most characteristics, we found that CA had dose-dependent effects. At high concentrations of CA, there were no differences in the tested parameters compared to those of normal rats. These findings indicate that CA reduces the serum alcohol concentration and some of the hepatic damage caused by alcohol intoxication.

Mushroom extracts and compounds with suppressive action on breast cancer: evidence from studies using cultured cancer cells, tumor-bearing animals, and clinical trials

This article reviews mushrooms with anti-breast cancer activity. The mushrooms covered which are better known include the following: button mushroom Agaricus bisporus, Brazilian mushroom Agaricus blazei, Amauroderma rugosum, stout camphor fungus Antrodia camphorata, Jew's ear (black) fungus or black wood ear fungus Auricularia auricula-judae, reishi mushroom or Lingzhi Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma sinense, maitake mushroom or sheep's head mushroom Grifola frondosa, lion's mane mushroom or monkey head mushroom Hericium erinaceum, brown beech mushroom Hypsizigus marmoreus, sulfur polypore mushroom Laetiporus sulphureus, Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom), Phellinus linteus (Japanese "meshimakobu," Chinese "song gen," Korean "sanghwang," American "black hoof mushroom"), abalone mushroom Pleurotus abalonus, king oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii, oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, tuckahoe or Fu Ling Poria cocos, and split gill mushroom Schizophyllum commune. Antineoplastic effectiveness in human clinical trials and mechanism of anticancer action have been reported for Antrodia camphorata, Cordyceps sinensis, Coriolus versicolor, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, and Lentinula edodes.

Kinetic Models for Glucosamine Production by Acid Hydrolysis of Chitin in Five Mushrooms

In this paper, glucosamine was produced by acid hydrolysis of five mushrooms. The glucosamine yields were investigated, and the optimum conditions were obtained as follows: acid type, sulfuric acid; acid concentration, 6 M; ratio of raw material to acid volume, 1 : 10; hydrolysis temperature, 100°C; and time, 6 h. Under these conditions, the glucosamine conversion from chitin content reached up to 92%. The results of hydrolysis kinetics indicated that hydrolysis of five mushrooms to glucosamine followed zero-order kinetics. Moreover, the relatively low activation energy for hydrolysis of straw mushroom (18.31 kJ/mol) and the highest glucosamine yield (56.8132 ± 3.5748 mg/g DM, 0.9824 g/g chitin) indicated that hydrolysis of straw mushroom was energy-saving. Thus, sulfuric acid hydrolysis of straw mushroom for glucosamine production should be considered as an efficient process for the future industrial application. However, further study is needed for glucosamine purification.

Historical and current perspectives on therapeutic potential of higher basidiomycetes: an overview

Mushrooms are macroscopic fungi which can be either epigeous or hypogeous and is estimated to be 140,000 on earth, yet only 10% are known. Since ancient time, it played a diverse role in human history for mycolatry, mycophagy and as medicine in folklore and religion. Many Asian and western countries consider mushrooms as panacea for a large number of diseases and utilized for consumption as a gourmet food for its taste as well as flavor. In recent years, scientific research fraternities have confirmed that various extracts and metabolites of mushrooms used traditionally are able to treat a wide range of diseases due to their balanced modulation of multiple targets thereby providing a greater therapeutic effect or equivalent curative effect to that of modern medicine. Medicinal mushrooms especially those belonging to higher basidiomycete groups are reservoir of bioactive compounds with multiple therapeutic properties. The present review provides historical importance as well as an updated information on pharmacologically relevant higher basidiomycetes belong to the genus Agaricus, Auricularia, Phellinus, Ganoderma, Pleurotus, Trametes and Lentinus and their biologically active secondary metabolites. This will help the researchers to understand various type of secondary metabolites, their therapeutic role and related in vivo or in vitro work at a glance. The mounting evidences from several scientific community across the globe, regarding various therapeutic applications of mushroom extracts, unarguably make it an advance research area worth mass attention.

A Review: The Bioactivities and Pharmacological Applications of Phellinus linteus

Phellinus linteus is a popular medicinal mushroom that is widely used in China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries. P. linteus comprises various bioactive components, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and furans, and has proven to be an effective therapeutic agent in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment and the prevention of various diseases. A number of studies have reported that P. linteus possesses many biological activities useful for pharmacological applications, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidative, and antifungal activities, as well as antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. This review article briefly presents the recent progress made in understanding the bioactive components, biological activities, pharmacological applications, safety, and prospects of P. linteus, and provides helpful references and promising directions for further studies of P. linteus.

A new 2H-benzindazole compound from Alternaria alternata Shm-1, an endophytic fungus isolated from the fresh wild fruit of Phellinus igniarius

Endophytic fungi have been shown in recent years to produce a series of bioactive secondary metabolites. Several endophytic fungi were isolated from the fresh wild body of Phellinus igniarius, and initially evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Among which, Shm-1 extract showed moderate inhibitory activity against Clavibacter michiganense and the fungus was identified to be Alternaria alternata Shm-1 through the comparison of morphological characteristics and the sequence of the rDNA ITS with those of other Alternaria species. A new 2H-benzindazole derivative, alterindazolin A (1), has been isolated from cultures of the endophyte Alternaria alternata Shm-1. Its structure was characterized as 1-benzyl-5-p-hydroxy-phenyloxygen-benz[e]indazole by spectroscopic data analysis including 1D NMR, 2D NMR and MS spectrum.

GPX2 promotes development of bladder cancer with squamous cell differentiation through the control of apoptosis

Herein, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) in bladder cancer. GPX2 expression gradually increased during progression from normal to papillary or nodular hyperplasia (PNHP) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) in a rat N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-induced bladder carcinogenesis model. GPX2 overexpression was more marked in UC with squamous differentiation (SqD) than in pure UC. Clinical intraepithelial lesions of papillary UC and invasive UC with SqD also had strong GPX2 expression in human radical cystectomy specimens. In addition, prognostic analysis using transurethral specimens revealed that low expression level of GPX2 predicted poor prognosis in patients with pure UC. Further, UC cell lines, BC31 and RT4, cultured in vitro also overexpressed GPX2. Knock-down of GPX2 induced significant inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, in addition to significant growth inhibition and increased apoptosis with activation of caspase 3 or 7 in both BC31 and RT4 cells. Interestingly, tumor growth of BC31 cells subcutaneously transplanted in nude mice was significantly caused the induction of apoptosis, as well as inhibition of angiogenesis and SqD by GPX2 down-regulation. Our findings demonstrated that GPX2 plays an important role in bladder carcinogenesis through the regulation of apoptosis against intracellular ROS, and may be considered as a novel biomarker or therapeutic target in bladder cancer.

Oxidative stress and prostatic diseases

Prostatic diseases are a common health problem among males in Western countries, and include chronic prostatic diseases, which have an unclear pathogenesis and few treatment options. In vitro and in vivo studies describe oxidative stress as a major pathway involved in the occurrence of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic cancer and chronic prostatitis. Thus, the oxidative stress cascade is a potential target for the treatment of prostatic diseases. This paper presents a systematic review of the available data concerning the association between oxidative stress and the most common chronic prostatic diseases, and describes the available treatment options that act upon this pathway.

Phellinus linteus Mycelium Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through Autophagic Regulation

The incidence of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is rapidly increasing around the world and this disease is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. It is known that regulation of programmed cell death including apoptosis and autophagy reduces the impact of myocardial IR injury. In this study, the cardioprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of Phellinus linteus (Berk. and Curt.) Teng, Hymenochaetaceae (PL), a type of medicinal mushroom, were examined in rats subjected to myocardial IR injury. The left main coronary artery of rats was ligated for 1 h and reperfused for 3 h. The arrhythmia levels were monitored during the entire process and the infarct size was evaluated after myocardial IR injury. Furthermore, the expression levels of proteins in apoptotic and autophagic pathways were observed. Pretreatment with PL mycelium (PLM) significantly reduced ventricular arrhythmia and mortality due to myocardial IR injury. PLM also significantly decreased myocardial infarct size and plasma lactate dehydrogenase level after myocardial IR injury. Moreover, PLM administration resulted in decreased caspase 3 and caspase 9 activation and increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Phosphorylation level of AMPK was elevated while mTOR level was reduced. Becline-1 and p62 levels decreased. These findings suggest that PLM is effective in protecting the myocardium against IR injury. The mechanism involves mediation through suppressed pro-apoptotic signaling and regulation of autophagic signaling, including stimulation of AMPK-dependent pathway and inhibition of beclin-1-dependent pathway, resulting in enhancement of protective autophagy and inhibition of excessive autophagy.