Cytotoxic Constituents from the Sclerotia of Poria cocos against Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells by Inducing Mitochondrial Apoptosis

New autophagy-modulating lanostane-type triterpenoids from a hallucinogenic poisonous mushroom Gymnopilus orientispectabilis

Gymnopilus orientispectabilis, also known as "big laughter mushroom," is a hallucinogenic poisonous mushroom that causes excessive laughter upon ingestion. From the fruiting bodies of G. orientispectabilis, eight lanostane-type triterpenoids (1-8), including seven novel compounds: gymnojunols A-G (2-8), were isolated. The chemical structures of these new compounds (2-8) were determined by analyzing their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HR-EISMS, and their absolute configurations were unambiguously assigned by quantum chemical ECD calculations and a computational method coupled with a statistical procedure (DP4+). Upon evaluating autophagic activity, compounds 2, 6, and 7 increased LC3B-II levels in HeLa cells to a similar extent as bafilomycin, an autophagy inhibitor. In contrast, compound 8 decreased the levels of both LC3B-I and LC3B-II, and a similar effect was observed following treatment with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer. Our findings provide experimental evidence for new potential autophagy modulators in the hallucinogenic poisonous mushroom G. orientispectabilis.

The mechanism and application of traditional Chinese medicine extracts in the treatment of lung cancer and other lung-related diseases

Lung cancer stands as one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, bearing the highest morbidity and mortality rates among all malignant tumors. The treatment of lung cancer primarily encompasses surgical procedures, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, which are fraught with significant side effects, unfavorable prognoses, and a heightened risk of metastasis and relapse. Although targeted therapy and immunotherapy have gradually gained prominence in lung cancer treatment, diversifying the array of available methods, the overall recovery and survival rates for lung cancer patients remain suboptimal. Presently, with a holistic approach and a focus on syndrome differentiation and treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has emerged as a pivotal player in the prognosis of cancer patients. TCM possesses characteristics such as targeting multiple aspects, addressing a wide range of concerns, and minimizing toxic side effects. Research demonstrates that Traditional Chinese Medicine can significantly contribute to the treatment or serve as an adjunct to chemotherapy for lung cancer and other lung-related diseases. This is achieved through mechanisms like inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, suppressing tumor angiogenesis, influencing the cellular microenvironment, regulating immune system function, impacting signal transduction pathways, and reversing multidrug resistance in tumor cells. In this article, we offer an overview of the advancements in research concerning Traditional Chinese Medicine extracts for the treatment or adjunctive chemotherapy of lung cancer and other lung-related conditions. Furthermore, we delve into the challenges that Traditional Chinese Medicine extracts face in lung cancer treatment, laying the foundation for the development of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets.

Revealing the Preventable Effects of Fu-Zheng-Qu-Xie Decoction against Recurrence and Metastasis of Postoperative Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology Coupled with Metabolomics Analysis

Fu-Zheng-Qu-Xie (FZQX) decoction is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription for the treatment of lung cancer and exerts proapoptotic and immunomodulatory effects. It has been clinically suggested to be effective in improving the survival of postoperative early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we used network pharmacology coupled with metabolomics approaches to explore the pharmacological action and effective mechanism of FZQX against the recurrence and metastasis of postoperative early-stage LUAD. Network pharmacology analysis showed that FZQX could prevent the recurrence and metastasis of postoperative early-stage LUAD by regulating a series of targets involving vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, estrogen receptor 1, sarcoma gene, epidermal growth factor receptor, and protein kinase B and by influencing the Ras, PI3K-Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. In liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, 11 differentially expressed metabolites, including PA(12:0/18:4(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)), PC(16:0/0:0)[U], LysoPC(18:1(11Z)), and LysoPC(18:0), were discovered in the FZQX-treated group compared to those in the model group before treatment or normal group. They were enriched in cancer metabolism-related signaling pathways such as central carbon metabolism in cancer, choline metabolism, and glycerol phospholipid metabolism. Collectively, our results suggest that the multicomponent and multitarget interaction network of FZQX inhibits the recurrence and metastasis of postoperative early-stage LUAD by activating the receptor signal transduction pathway to inhibit proliferation, induce cell apoptosis, inhibit aerobic glycolysis, and reprogram tumor lipid metabolism.

N,N-Dimethyl-anthranilic Acid from Calvatia nipponica Mushroom Fruiting Bodies Induces Apoptotic Effects on MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignancies affecting women worldwide, and apoptosis-targeting drugs are attractive candidates for the treatment of cancer. In the current study, we investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity of the mushroom Calvatia nipponica in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), identified potential antitumor compounds through bioactivity-guided isolation, and elucidated the antitumor, pro-apoptotic molecular mechanisms of the identified bioactive compounds. C. nipponica is edible when young, and it has been used as a food source as well as a traditional medicine in wound dressings. However, only a limited number of studies have reported its chemical composition and biological activities. In the screening test, the methanol extract of C. nipponica fruiting bodies exhibited cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the methanol (MeOH) extract and chemical investigation of the active fractions resulted in the isolation of fourteen compounds (1-14), including six alkaloids (1-3, 5, 7, and 8), two phenolic compounds (4 and 6), one fatty acid (9), and five steroids (10-14). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined using NMR spectroscopic methods, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and comparison of data with previously reported values. The isolated compounds (1-14) were tested for cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells, where compound 1, i.e., N,N-dimethyl-anthranilic acid, exhibited the most significant cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 90.28 ± 4.23 μM and apoptotic cell death of 56.01% ± 2.64% at 100 μM. Treatment with compound 1 resulted in an upregulation of protein levels, including cleaved caspase-8, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Bad, and Cytochrome c, but decreased the levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Overall, these results indicate that N,N-dimethyl-anthranilic acid (1) may have anti-breast cancer activity and is probably involved in the induction of apoptosis mediated by extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways.

Structural diversity, fermentation production, bioactivities and applications of triterpenoids from several common medicinal fungi: Recent advances and future perspectives

Medicinal fungi are beneficial to human health and it reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Triterpenoids are polycyclic compounds derived from the straight-chain hydrocarbon squalene, which are widely distributed in medicinal fungi. Triterpenoids from medicinal fungal sources possess diverse bioactive activities such as anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity. This review article describes the structure, fermentation production, biological activities, and application of triterpenoids from the medicinal fungi including Ganoderma lucidum, Poria cocos, Antrodia camphorata, Inonotus obliquus, Phellinus linteus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Laetiporus sulphureus. Besides, the research perspectives of triterpenoids from medicinal fungi are also proposed. This paper provides useful guidance and reference for further research on medicinal fungi triterpenoids.

Recent Advances on Biological Activities and Structural Modifications of Dehydroabietic Acid

Dehydroabietic acid is a tricyclic diterpenoid resin acid isolated from rosin. Dehydroabietic acid and its derivatives showed lots of medical and agricultural bioactivities, such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antiulcer, insecticidal, and herbicidal activities. This review summarized the research advances on the structural modification and total synthesis of dehydroabietic acid and its derivatives from 2015 to 2021, and analyzed the biotransformation and structure-activity relationships in order to provide a reference for the development and utilization of dehydroabietic acid and its derivatives as drugs and pesticides.

Bioactive components of Laetiporus species and their pharmacological effects

Laetiporus species are brown rot fungi belonging to the order Polyporales in the division Basidiomycota. These species produce a variety of metabolites and provide a great source of natural material for the screening of medicinally active natural products or their derivatives. This review summarizes the research progress on bioactive metabolites of Laetiporus species up to April 2022, including biological macromolecules, for instance, polysaccharides and lectins, as well as 80 reported small molecule chemical components (15 sterols, 29 triterpenes, 10 sesquiterpenes, 5 polyenes, 10 volatile compounds, and 11 other compounds). These metabolites exhibit antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities. Genome mining predicted 23 terpene synthases, 7 polyketide synthases, and 9 non-ribosomal peptide synthases involved in bioactive metabolites biosynthesis, which were analyzed by antiSMASH in L. sulphureus genome. This review will provide a basis for the biosynthesis of active components in Laetiporus species and a reference for the research of medical precursors. KEY POINTS: • The mini-review summarized 80 secondary metabolites of Laetiporus spp. • The main pharmacological activities of Laetiporus spp. were summarized. • Biosynthetic genes of terpenoids, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides were also summarized.

Structural characterization of Poria cocos oligosaccharides and their effects on the hepatic metabolome in high-fat diet-fed mice

In this study, novel Poria cocos oligosaccharides (PCO) were prepared by enzymatic degradation, and their polymerization degree was determined to be 2-6 by LC-MS analysis. By monosaccharide composition analysis, methylation assay, FT-IR, and NMR analysis, PCO were deduced to contain the sugar residues of (1 → 2)-β-D-Glcp, (1 → 2)-α-D-Glcp, and (1 → 4)-α-D-Glcp. Using an HFD-fed mouse model with dyslipidemia, PCO could significantly suppress lipid metabolism disorders, characterized by the reduction of lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses in the blood and liver tissues. Based on the non-targeted metabolomic analysis and Spearman's correlation analysis, we presume that the preventive effect of PCO on dyslipidemia might contribute to the reversal of changed metabolic pathways, which were related to the metabolisms of glycerophospholipids, unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, choline, bile acids, tryptophan, sphingolipids, and glutathione. Our research shed light on the potential application of PCO for the treatment of dyslipidemia.

Structure and Biological Activity of Ergostane-Type Steroids from Fungi

Mushrooms are known not only for their taste but also for beneficial effects on health attributed to plethora of constituents. All mushrooms belong to the kingdom of fungi, which also includes yeasts and molds. Each year, hundreds of new metabolites of the main fungal sterol, ergosterol, are isolated from fungal sources. As a rule, further testing is carried out for their biological effects, and many of the isolated compounds exhibit one or another activity. This study aims to review recent literature (mainly over the past 10 years, selected older works are discussed for consistency purposes) on the structures and bioactivities of fungal metabolites of ergosterol. The review is not exhaustive in its coverage of structures found in fungi. Rather, it focuses solely on discussing compounds that have shown some biological activity with potential pharmacological utility.

The Traditional Usages, Chemical Components and Pharmacological Activities of Wolfiporia cocos: A Review

As an endemic species,Wolfiporia cocos (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb. is widely distributed, such as in China, Korea, Japan, and North America, which have had a dual-purpose resource for medicines and food for over 2000 years. The applications of W. cocos were used to treat diseases including edema, insomnia, spleen deficiency, and vomiting. What's more, there have been wide uses of such edible fungi as a function food or dietary supplement recently. Up until now, 166 kinds of chemical components have been isolated and identified from W. cocos including triterpenes, polysaccharides, sterols, diterpenes, and others. Modern pharmacological studies showed that the components hold a wide range of pharmacological activities both in vitro and in vivo, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-oxidant, and antidepressant activities. In addition, present results showed that the mechanisms of pharmacological activities were closely related to chemical structures, molecular signaling paths and the expression of relate proteins for polysaccharides and triterpenes. For further in-depth studies on this fungus based on the recent research status, this review provided some perspectives and systematic summaries of W. cocos in traditional uses, chemical components, pharmacological activities, separation and analysis technologies, and structure-activity relationships.

Modified Sijunzi Decoction Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Attenuating AKT/GSK3β Pathway in vitro and in vivo

Modified Sijunzi Decoction (MSJZD) is an empirical prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and has been corroborated to be effective in multiple human diseases, but its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is enigmatic. Here we mainly analyze the function and mechanism of MSJZD in NSCLC. In this study, we used a method that coupled ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) to investigate the major constituents in MSJZD with positive and negative ion modes. Additionally, in in vitro experiments, the effects of serum-containing MSJZD on the biological behavior of NSCLC cells induced by TGF-β1 were assessed by cell function experiments. Then, the influences of serum-containing MSJZD on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers were examined by immunofluorescence and western blot assays. Also, the AKT/GSK3β pathway and apoptosis-related markers were estimated by western blotting. Tumor xenografts were generated by subcutaneously injecting A549 cells into BALB/c nude mice to determine the effects of MSJZD in vivo. We first analyzed the composition of MSJZD. In positive ion mode, 47 kinds of components were identified. In negative ion mode, 45 kinds of components were identified. We also found that TGF-β1 contributed to inducing cell morphological changes and EMT progression. In vitro, surprisingly, cell proliferation, migration as well as invasion in NSCLC cells induced by TGF-β1, could be weakened by serum-containing MSJZD, and apoptosis was intensified. Moreover, serum-containing MSJZD weakened EMT passage and AKT/GSK3β pathway activation and induced apoptosis-related markers in NSCLC cells triggered by TGF-β1. In vivo, we discovered that MSJZD attenuated the tumor growth, promoted histopathological damage, and induced apoptosis in A549 tumor-bearing mice. Importantly, MSJZD has also restrained the development of EMT, AKT/GSK3β pathway, and TGF-β1 expression levels in nude mice. These findings demonstrated that MSJZD significantly weakened NSCLC progression by modulating EMT and AKT/GSK3β pathway.

Secondary Metabolites of Purpureocilliumlilacinum

Fungi can synthesize a wealth of secondary metabolites, which are widely used in the exploration of lead compounds of pharmaceutical or agricultural importance. Beauveria, Metarhizium, and Cordyceps are the most extensively studied fungi in which a large number of biologically active metabolites have been identified. However, relatively little attention has been paid to Purpureocillium lilacinum. P. lilacinum are soil-habituated fungi that are widely distributed in nature and are very important biocontrol fungi in agriculture, providing good biological control of plant parasitic nematodes and having a significant effect on Aphidoidea, Tetranychus cinnbarinus, and Aleyrodidae. At the same time, it produces secondary metabolites with various biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, and insecticidal. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the secondary metabolites of P. lilacinum, with emphasis on the chemical diversity and biological activity of these secondary metabolites and the biosynthetic pathways, and gives new insight into the secondary metabolites of medical and entomogenous fungi, which is expected to provide a reference for the development of medicine and agrochemicals in the future.

Hypouricaemic and nephroprotective effects of Poria cocos in hyperuricemic mice by up-regulating ATP-binding cassette super-family G member 2

CONTEXT

Poria coco F.A.Wolf (Polyporaceae) dispels dampness and promotes diuresis implying hypouricaemic action.

OBJECTIVE

To examine hypouricaemic action of Poria coco.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethanol extract (PCE) was prepared by extracting the sclerotium of P. cocos with ethanol, and the water extract (PCW) was produced by bathing the remains with water. PCE and PCW (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively) were orally administered to hyperuricemic Kunming mice (n = 8) to examine its hypouricaemic effect. Also, molecular docking was performed.

RESULTS

P. cocos showed excellent hypouricaemic action, decreasing the serum uric acid of hyperuricaemia (HUA) control (526 ± 112 μmol/L) to 178 ± 53, 153 ± 57 and 151 ± 62 μmol/L (p < 0.01) by PCE and 69 ± 23, 63 ± 15 and 62 ± 20 μmol/L (p < 0.01) by PCW, respectively. According to SCrs, BUNs and H&E staining, PCE and PCW partially attenuated renal dysfunction caused by HUA. They presented no negative effects on ALT, AST and ALP activities. They elevated ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette super-family G member 2) mRNA and protein expression in comparison to HUA control. In molecular docking, compound 267, 277, 13824, 15730 and 5759 were predicted as the top bioactives of P. cocos against HUA, which even presented better scores than the positive compound, oestrone 3-sulfate.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

This paper demonstrated the hypouricaemic and nephroprotective effects of P. cocos in hyperuricemic mice by up-regulating ABCG2. These results may be useful for the development of a hypouricaemic agent.

A Novel Model Based on Genomic Instability-Associated Long Non-Coding RNAs for Predicting Prognosis and Response to Immunotherapy in Patients With Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background: Emerging scientific evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert critical roles in genomic instability (GI), which is considered a hallmark of cancer. To date, the prognostic value of GI-associated lncRNAs (GI-lncRNAs) remains largely unexplored in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAC). The aims of this study were to identify GI-lncRNAs associated with the survival of LUAC patients, and to develop a novel GI-lncRNA-based prognostic model (GI-lncRNA model) for LUAC.

Methods: Clinicopathological data of LUAC patients, and their expression profiles of lncRNAs and somatic mutations were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to identify the co-expressed mRNAs of GI-lncRNAs. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the main biological function and molecular pathways of the differentially expressed GI-lncRNAs. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to identify GI-lncRNAs significantly related to overall survival (OS) for construction of the GI-lncRNA model. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to evaluate the predictive accuracy. The performance of the newly developed GI-lncRNA model was compared with the recently published lncRNA-based prognostic index models.

Results: A total of 19 GI-lncRNAs were found to be significantly associated with OS, of which 9 were identified by multivariate analysis to construct the GI-lncRNA model. Notably, the GI-lncRNA model showed a prognostic value independent of key clinical characteristics. Further performance evaluation indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) of the GI-lncRNA model was 0.771, which was greater than that of the TP53 mutation status and three existing lncRNA-based models in predicting the prognosis of patients with LUAC. In addition, the GI-lncRNA model was highly correlated with programed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor mutational burden in immunotherapy for LUAC.

Conclusion: The GI-lncRNA model was established and its performance was found to be superior to existing lncRNA-based models. As such, the GI-lncRNA model holds promise as a more accurate prognostic tool for the prediction of prognosis and response to immunotherapy in patients with LUAC.

Protective effect of Palmijihwanghwan in a mouse model of cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Palmijihwanghwan (PJH) is a traditional medicine and eight constituents derived from PJH possess anti-inflammatory activities. However, the scientific evidence for its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory lung disease has not yet been studied. In this study, we examined the protective effect of PJH in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced by cigarette smoke (CS) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods

Mice received CS exposure for 8 weeks and intranasal instillation of LPS on weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7. PJH (100 and 200 mg/kg) was administrated daily 1 h before CS treatment for the last 4 weeks.

Results

Compared with CS plus LPS-exposed mice, mice in the PJH-treated group showed significantly decreased inflammatory cells count and reduced inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. PJH also suppressed the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) caused by CS plus LPS exposure. Furthermore, CS plus LPS induced increases in matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-7, MMP-9, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression and collagen deposition that were inhibited in PJH-treated mice.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that PJH prevents respiratory inflammation and airway remodeling caused by CS with LPS exposure suggesting potential therapy for the treatment of COPD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03453-5.

A novel strategy of "pick the best of the best" for the nondestructive identification of Poria cocos based on near-infrared spectroscopy

In this paper, a novel strategy of "pick the best of the best" was proposed for the nondestructive identification of different-origin and adulterated Poria cocos with near-infrared spectroscopy. First, various preprocessing methods were divided into three classes: baseline correction, scattering and trend correction, and scaling. The single preprocessing methods with the best predictions in each class were selected. Then, the selected preprocessing methods were combined in pairs according to three classes. The pair combination preprocessing methods with the best predictions and also better predictions than single methods were selected. Finally, the selected pair combination preprocessing method was combined with the methods in the unselected class. The three combination preprocessing methods with the best predictions and also better predictions than pair combination methods were selected as the final prediction. With this strategy, the optimized preprocessing combination can be obtained quickly, and the identification accuracy with principal component analysis method can be greatly improved. 0% identification accuracy of adulterated samples and 12.5% identification accuracy of different-origin samples were obtained with the raw data. However, 100% accuracy of adulterated samples, 93.8% accuracy of calibration dataset, and 75% accuracy of validation dataset can be obtained with the novel strategy. The developed technology can be regarded as a simple, rapid, and accurate nondestructive identification method for different-origin and adulterated samples, and has a broad application prospect in the future.

Geographical traceability and multielement analysis of edible and medicinal fungi: Taking Wolfiporia cocos (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden and Gilb. as an example

Different geographical environment has a certain influence on the accumulation of fungi elements and chemical components. However, our knowledge is limited to elucidate the fungi elements in response to heterogeneous environmental and the quality differences among different habitats. Here, multielement analysis, FTIR spectrum, and feature-level fusion technique combined with chemometrics were used to study Wolfiporia cocos from different geographical areas, different sampling sites and different altitude sources. From the results, (1) there is significant difference in element content of samples from different sampling sites and no positive correlation with geographical ranges. (2) There is a correlation between elevation and elements, and relatively low elevation (<1,800 m) is conducive to the enrichment of elements. (3) From the perspective of elements, the W. cocos in Yuxi have relatively better quality. (4) FTIR and feature-level models can well realize origin identification. The SVM models are better than the PLS-DA models, and the feature-level model is better than the single FTIR models. In summary, this study demonstrated that the developed method was reliable and could realize the genuineness evaluation and origin identification of W. cocos. The results have implications for the establishment of the technology system of geographical traceability and the development of high-quality geographical indication products of W. cocos.

Cytotoxicity and Anticancer Activity of Donkioporiella mellea on MRC5 (Normal Human Lung) and A549 (Human Lung Carcinoma) Cells Lines

Polypores are mushrooms which are rich in bioactivities and for generations, they have been widely used as herbal remedies. Despite their significant importance in treatments of various health issues, only a few local species have been reported for their pharmacological potentials. The present study was carried out to establish cytotoxicity potentials of Donkioporiella mellea, a local polypore species collected from forested areas in Malaysia at cellular levels on normal human lung (MRC5) and human lung carcinoma (A549) cell lines. Survival and inhibition rates were analyzed by 3-(4, 5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y-l)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) while monitoring changes on cellular shapes by inverted phase contrast microscopy. Survival rates of MRC5 cells were observed to be significantly higher than A549 after treatments with various concentrations of polypore extracts. MRC5 cells showed excellence in survival performance when treated with hot and cold aqueous extracts. Cold aqueous extract showed higher cytotoxicity activities compared to hot aqueous extract (p < 0.0001) with inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 414.29 μg/ml and >1000 μg/ml, respectively. Treatments with tamoxifen as a control exhibited necrotic features in both cell lines. The results suggest that D. mellea possesses pharmacological potentials that can be utilized for human consumption as a new bioresource alternative, thus encouraging research advancement in mycological and nutraceutical studies.

Ergostane-Type Steroids from Korean Wild Mushroom Xerula furfuracea that Control Adipocyte and Osteoblast Differentiation

As part of our current work to discover structurally and/or biologically novel compounds from Korean wild mushrooms, we isolated five ergostane-type steroids (1-5) from the fruiting bodies of Xerula furfuracea via repeated column chromatographic separations and HPLC purification. The chemical structures of the isolated steroids were shown to be (22E,24R)-24-methylcholesta-4,22- diene-3,6-dione (1), ergosta-7,22-diene-3β,5α,6β-triol (2), ergosta-7,22-diene-3β,5α,6β,9α-tetraol (3), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-diene-3β-ol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), and (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9,22-triene-3β-ol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5) based on comparison of the data regarding their spectroscopic and physical properties with those of previous studies. Notably, this is the first report on the presence of the identified steroids (1-5) in this mushroom. We tested compounds 1-5 to determine their effects on adipogenesis and osteogenesis in the mouse mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2 and found that compounds 4 and 5 suppressed the differentiation of stem cells into adipocytes. Notably, in addition to its suppressive effect on adipogenesis, compound 5 was also shown to promote the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. These findings demonstrate that the bioactive compounds isolated might be effective for the treatment of menopause-associated syndromes, such as osteoporosis and obesity, as the isolated compounds were shown to suppress adipogenesis and/or promote osteogenesis of stem cells.

Role of endophytic Penicillium species and Pseudomonas monteilii in inducing the systemic resistance in okra against root rotting fungi and their effect on some physiochemical properties of okra fruit

AIMS

The efficacy of three isolates of endophytic Penicillium species that have shown significant suppressive effect on root rotting fungi in our previous study were further evaluated in pots and field plot experiments for their effect on root diseases of okra, induction of systemic resistance and physiochemical properties of okra fruit.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Aqueous suspensions of endophytic Penicillium and Pseudomonas monteilii were applied in pots and field plots using okra as test plant. Data on the fungal infection of roots, plant growth, plant resistance markers like polyphenol, salicylic acid and antioxidant status of plant were determined. These isolates significantly suppressed root diseases and induced systemic resistance via increasing level of resistance markers, polyphenol and salicylic acid besides improving antioxidant activity of Penicillium and P. monteilii-treated plants as compared to control plants. GC-MS analysis of n-hexane extract of mycelium of P. nigricans revealed the presence of 15 different volatile compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

Endophytic Penicillium and P. monteilii have potential against root-infecting fungi of okra and can improve plant growth and yield.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Endophytic Penicillium species and P. monteilii can suppress root rotting fungi by direct mechanism or induction of systemic resistance in plants.

Calvatianone, a Sterol Possessing a 6/5/6/5-Fused Ring System with a Contracted Tetrahydrofuran B-Ring, from the Fruiting Bodies of Calvatia nipponica

Calvatia nipponica is an extremely rare mushroom with a limited number of studies on its chemical components and biological activities published. Here we report the isolation of a novel sterol, calvatianone (1), possessing a 6/5/6/5-fused ring system with a contracted tetrahydrofuran B-ring, and four known steroids (2-5) from the fruiting bodies of C. nipponica. The structure of calvatianone including its absolute configuration was determined by NMR spectroscopic analyses, HR-ESIMS, gauge-including atomic orbital NMR chemical shift calculations, and ECD calculations. Ergosterol peroxide (3) and cyathisterol (4) suppressed the cell viability increase induced by 17β-estradiol in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines, suggesting a possible approach for these compounds to serve as ERα antagonists.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Wolfiporia cocos (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb

Poria cocos is the dried sclerotium of Wolfiporia cocos (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb., which was the current accepted name and was formerly known as Macrohyporia cocos (Schwein.) I. Johans. & Ryvarden, Pachyma cocos (Schwein.) Fr., Poria cocos F.A. Wolf and Sclerotium cocos Schwein. It is one of the most important crude drugs in traditional Chinese medicine, with a wide range of applications in ameliorating phlegm and edema, relieving nephrosis and chronic gastritis and improving uneasiness of minds. Its extensive pharmacological effects have attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, there is no systematic review focusing on the chemical compounds and pharmacological activities of Poria cocos. Therefore, this review aimed to provide the latest information on the chemical compounds and pharmacological effects of Poria cocos, exploring the therapeutic potential of these compounds. We obtained the information of Poria cocos from electronic databases such as SCI finder, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang DATA and Google Scholar. Up to now, two main active ingredients, triterpenes and polysaccharides of Poria cocos, have been identified from Poria cocos. It has been reported that they have pharmacological effects on anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and liver and kidney protection. The review summarizes the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Poria cocos, which suggest that researchers should focus on the development of new drugs about Poria cocos to make them exert greater therapeutic potential.

Phallac acids A and B, new sesquiterpenes from the fruiting bodies of Phallus luteus

Phallus luteus (Phallaceae), previously known as Dictyophora indusiata, is an edible and medicinal mushroom. As part of a continuing project to discover structurally and/or biologically novel natural products from wild mushrooms, we aimed to perform a chemical investigation of the methanol extract of P. luteus combined with a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-guided analysis coupled to an in-house UV spectral library. Two new sesquiterpenes, phallac acids A (1) and B (2), were isolated and determined. The chemical structure of the new natural products was unambiguously determined using a combination of 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry data. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report linear sesquiterpene carboxylic acids from P. luteus. The new compounds were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activities where phallac acid B (2) showed α-glucosidase inhibitory potential (IC₅₀ value of 94.89 ± 5.57 μM) compared with the standard acarbose (IC₅₀ value of 26.23 ± 1.31 μM).

Aviculin Isolated from Lespedeza cuneata Induce Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells through Mitochondria-Mediated Caspase Activation Pathway

The global incidence of breast cancer has increased. However, there are many impediments to the development of safe and effective anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of aviculin isolated from Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don. (Fabaceae) on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and determine the underlying mechanism. Using the bioassay-guided isolation by water soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1)-based Ez-Cytox assay, nine compounds (four lignan glycosides (1-4), three flavonoid glycosides (5-7), and two phenolic compounds (8 and 9)) were isolated from the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of the L. cuneata methanolic extract. Of these, aviculin (2), a lignan glycoside, was the only compound that reduced metabolic activity on MCF-7 cells below 50% (IC₅₀: 75.47 ± 2.23 μM). The underlying mechanism was analyzed using the annexin V Alexa Fluor 488 binding assay and Western blotting. Aviculin (2) was found to induce apoptotic cell death through the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, as indicated by the increased expression of initiator caspase-9, executioner caspase-7, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Aviculin (2)-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These findings demonstrated that aviculin (2) could induce breast cancer cell apoptosis through the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, and it can therefore be considered an excellent candidate for herbal treatment of breast cancer.

Benzyl salicylate from the stems and stem barks of Cornus walteri as a nephroprotective agent against cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death in LLC-PK1 cells

Benzyl salicylate from Cornus walteri can be a nephroprotective agent against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Pantheric Acids A-C from a Poisonous Mushroom, Amanita pantherina, Promote Lipid Accumulation in Adipocytes

Amanita pantherina is a poisonous mushroom that causes muscle cramps, insanity, and audiovisual disorders. As part of our systematic study on Korean mushrooms, a chemical investigation of A. pantherina fruiting bodies resulted in the isolation and structural identification of three new fatty acid derivatives, pantheric acids A-C (1-3), and a known compound, 1,10-dimethyl ester-2-decenedioic acid (4). Although 1,10-dimethyl ester-2-decenedioic acid (4) was previously reported as a synthetic product, it was structurally identified from a natural source for the first time. The structures of the new compounds were established by detailed analysis of 1D and 2D (¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR, HRMS, and LC/MS/MS data. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were unambiguously determined by a recently developed method using competing enantioselective acylation coupled with LC/MS analysis. The isolated compounds (1-4) were evaluated for their effects on lipid accumulation during adipocyte maturation. Pantheric acids A-C (1-3) promoted the enlargement of lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and altered lipid metabolism by inducing lipogenesis and inhibiting lipolysis. Our findings provide experimental evidence suggesting the potential adverse effects of pantheric acids A-C from a poisonous mushroom on lipid metabolism.

(-)-Catechin-7-O-β-d-Apiofuranoside Inhibits Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation by Suppressing the STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Hepatic fibrosis is characterized by the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. During hepatic fibrogenesis, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation followed by chronic injuries is considered a key event in fibrogenesis, and activated HSCs are known to comprise approximately 90% of ECM-producing myofibroblasts. Here, we demonstrated that (–)-catechin-7-O-β-d-apiofuranoside (C7A) significantly inhibited HSC activation via blocking the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. This is the first study to show the hepatic protective effects of C7A with possible mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. In our bioactivity screening, we figured out that the EtOH extract of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica root barks, which have been used as a Korean traditional medicine, inhibited collagen synthesis in HSCs. Four catechins isolated from the EtOAc fraction of the EtOH extract were compared with each other in terms of reduction in collagen, which is considered as a marker of hepatic protective effects, and C7A showed the strongest inhibitory effects on HSC activation in protein and qPCR analyses. As a possible mechanism, we investigated the effects of C7A on the STAT3 signaling pathway, which is known to activate HSCs. We found that C7A inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3 and translocation of STAT3 to nucleus. C7A also inhibited expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are downstream genes of STAT3 signaling. Anti-fibrotic effects of C7A were evaluated in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis model, which indicated that C7A significantly inhibited ECM deposition through inhibiting STAT3 signaling. C7A decreased serum levels of aspartate amino transferase and alanine transaminase, which were markedly increased by TAA injection. Moreover, ECM-associated proteins and mRNA expression were strongly suppressed by C7A. Our study provides the experimental evidence that C7A has inhibitory effects on HSC activation after live injury and has preventive and therapeutic potentials for the management of hepatic fibrosis.

Suppression of 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Oxidative Stress by Hyperoside Via Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling in Dopaminergic Neurons

In our ongoing research to discover natural products with neuroprotective effects, hyperoside (quercetin 3-O-galactoside) was isolated from Acer tegmentosum, which has been used in Korean traditional medicine to treat liver-related disorders. Here, we demonstrated that hyperoside protects cultured dopaminergic neurons from death via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanisms, although other relevant mechanisms of hyperoside activity remain largely uncharacterized. For the first time, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of hyperoside on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in neurons, and the possible underlying mechanisms. Hyperoside significantly ameliorated the loss of neuronal cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, excessive ROS accumulation and mitochondrial membrane potential dysfunction associated with 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity. Furthermore, hyperoside treatment activated the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an upstream molecule of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Hyperoside also induced the expression of HO-1, an antioxidant response gene. Remarkably, we found that the neuroprotective effects of hyperoside were weakened by an Nrf2 small interfering RNA, which blocked the ability of hyperoside to inhibit neuronal death, indicating the vital role of HO-1. Overall, we show that hyperoside, via the induction of Nrf2-dependent HO-1 activation, suppresses neuronal death caused by 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, Nrf2-dependent HO-1 signaling activation represents a potential preventive and therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease management.

Procyanidin B2 3″-O-gallate Isolated from Reynoutria elliptica Prevents Glutamate-Induced HT22 Cell Death by Blocking the Accumulation of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species

In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of MeOH extract and bioactive compounds obtained from Reynoutria elliptica seeds using HT22 cells from the murine hippocampal cell line as its underlying molecular basis, which has not yet been elucidated. Our study showed that the MeOH extract of R. elliptica seeds strongly protected HT22 cells from glutamate toxicity. To clarify the responsible compound for the neuroprotective effects, we took an interest in procyanidins of R. elliptica since procyanidins are known to exhibit high structural diversity and neuroprotective activity. To isolate the procyanidins efficiently, a phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract from R. elliptica seeds using the LC/MS-guided isolation approach was applied, and procyanidin B2 3″-O-gallate (1) was successfully isolated. The structure of 1 was elucidated by analyzing the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data and LC/MS analysis. The neuroprotective activities of 1 were thoroughly examined using HT22 cells. Compound 1 exhibited a strong antioxidant efficacy and blocked glutamate-mediated increase in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, compound 1 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, which were increased by glutamate. These findings prove that the extract of R. elliptica seeds containing procyanidin B2 3″-O-gallate, which is a strong neuroprotective component, can be used as a functional food forattenuating and regulating neurological disorders.

Betulinic Acid Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation through Induction of Apoptosis

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide in women, and the most malignant cancer among the different gynecological cancers. In this study, we explored potentially anticancer compounds from Cornus walteri (Cornaceae), the MeOH extract of which has been reported to show considerable cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines. Phytochemical investigations of the MeOH extract of the stem and stem bark of C. walteri by extensive application of chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of 14 compounds (1-14). The isolated compounds were evaluated for inhibitory effects on the viability of A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. An 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to assess the anticancer effects of compounds 1-14 on A2780 cells, which showed that compound 11 (betulinic acid) reduced the viability of these cells in a concentration-dependent manner and had an half maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 44.47 μM at 24 h. Nuclear staining and image-based cytometric assay were carried out to detect the induction of apoptosis by betulinic acid. Betulinic acid significantly increased the condensation of nuclei and the percentage of apoptotic cells in a concentration-dependent manner in A2780 cells. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the underlying mechanism of apoptosis. The results indicated that the expression levels of cleaved caspase-8, -3, -9, and Bax were increased in A2780 cells treated with betulinic acid, whereas those of Bcl-2 were decreased. Thus, we provide the experimental evidence that betulinic acid can induce apoptosis in A2780 cells through both mitochondria-dependent and -independent pathways and suggest the potential use of betulinic acid in the development of novel chemotherapeutics for ovarian cancer therapy.

Geographical Authentication of Macrohyporia cocos by a Data Fusion Method Combining Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Macrohyporia cocos is a medicinal and edible fungi, which is consumed widely. The epidermis and inner part of its sclerotium are used separately. M. cocos quality is influenced by geographical origins, so an effective and accurate geographical authentication method is required. Liquid chromatograms at 242 nm and 210 nm (LC₂₄₂ and LC₂₁₀) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of two parts were applied to authenticate the geographical origin of cultivated M. cocos combined with low and mid-level data fusion strategies, and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Data pretreatment involved correlation optimized warping and second derivative. The results showed that the potential of the chromatographic fingerprint was greater than that of five triterpene acids contents. LC₂₄₂-FTIR low-level fusion took full advantage of information synergy and showed good performance. Further, the predictive ability of the FTIR low-level fusion model of two parts was satisfactory. The performance of the low-level fusion strategy preceded those of the single technique and mid-level fusion strategy. The inner parts were more suitable for origin identification than the epidermis. This study proved the feasibility of the data fusion of chromatograms and spectra, and the data fusion of different parts for the accurate authentication of geographical origin. This method is meaningful for the quality control of food and the protection of geographical indication products.

Fridamycin A, a Microbial Natural Product, Stimulates Glucose Uptake without Inducing Adipogenesis

Type 2 diabetes is a complex, heterogeneous, and polygenic disease. Currently, available drugs for treating type 2 diabetes predominantly include sulfonylureas, α-glucosidase inhibitors, and biguanides. However, long-term treatment with these therapeutic drugs is often accompanied by undesirable side effects, which have driven interest in the development of more effective and safer antidiabetic agents. To address the urgent need for new chemical solutions, we focused on the analysis of structurally novel and/or biologically new metabolites produced by insect-associated microbes as they have recently been recognized as a rich source of natural products. Comparative LC/MS-based analysis of Actinomadura sp. RB99, isolated from a fungus-growing termite, led to the identification of the type II polyketide synthase-derived fridamycin A. The structure of fridamycin A was confirmed by ¹H NMR data and LC/MS analysis. The natural microbial product, fridamycin A, was examined for its antidiabetic properties in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which demonstrated that fridamycin A induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway but did not affect adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that the glucose uptake took place through activation of the AMPK signaling pathway without inducing adipogenesis. Our results suggest that fridamycin A has potential to induce fewer side effects such as weight gain compared to rosiglitazone, a commonly used antidiabetic drug, and that fridamycin A could be a novel potential therapeutic candidate for the management of type 2 diabetes.

Bioactive compounds from the seeds of Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemaire, a Chinese spice as inhibitors of sphingosine kinases, SPHK1/2

Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemaire (Zingiberaceae), a traditional Chinese spice also known as “Caoguo” or “tsao-ko,” has been considered to have many health benefits. As part of our continuous efforts to screen natural resources exhibiting potential bioactivity, we examined the seeds of A. tsaoko and found that its EtOH extract inhibited sphingosine kinases 1 and 2 (SPHK1/2). Bioactivity-based analysis and chemical investigation of the EtOH extract led to the isolation and identification of four aliphatic alcohols (1–4), five fatty acids (5–9), 12 phenolics (10–21), and four terpenoids (22–25), including four new compounds, an acetylated aliphatic alcohol (2), a fatty acid (5), and two phenolics (10–11). In addition, compound 1 was isolated for the first time from natural sources in this study. The structures of all compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and/or 2D NMR and HR-ESIMS as well as LC/MS analysis. A recently developed method using competing enantioselective acylation (CEA) coupled with LC/MS analysis was applied for the assignment of absolute configuration of compound 5. The absolute configurations of compounds 10 and 11 were determined using ECD calculations. All of the compounds (1–25) isolated from the active fraction were evaluated for their SPHK1/2 inhibitory effects at the concentration of 10 μM. Aliphatic alcohols 2–4, fatty acids 7 and 9, and phenolic compounds 13–15 and 21 showed inhibition against the activity of SPHK1 up to 20% and aliphatic alcohols 2 and 4, fatty acid 8, and phenolic compounds 10, 11, 18, and 22 showed inhibition against the activity of SPHK2 up to 40% compared with the control. Compound 2 showed the highest potency to inhibit SPHK1 enzymatic activity, by 59.75%, and compound 22 showed the highest potency in inhibiting the activity of SPHK2, by 22.75%, in comparison with the control, where both exhibited higher inhibition compared to those of positive controls. Docking modeling studies were conducted to suggest the binding mode of 2 and 22 in the substrate-binding pocket of SPHK1 and SPHK2, respectively.

New bioactive compounds were identified from the seeds of Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemaire, a Chinese spice as inhibitors of sphingosine kinases, SPHK1/2.