Purification and characterization of a novel immunomodulatory protein from the medicinal mushroom Trametes versicolor

Bioactive proteins represent an important group of functional agents in medicinal mushrooms.Trametes versicolor(L.) Lloyd is a mushroom frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities.A new immunomodulatory protein from T.versicolor,named TVC,was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation,ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the purified protein revealed a single band with a molecular weight of 15.0 kD.Native polyacrylamide gel analysis revealed a band at 30 kD,indicating that TVC exists in solution as a homodimer.Isoelectric focusing showed that TVC was an acidic protein with an isoelectric point of 4.0.TVC was found to lack carbohydrate modifications(based on periodic acid/Schiff staining) and it does not agglutinate mouse red blood cells,suggesting that TVC is not a lectin-like protein.Biological activity assays dem-onstrated that TVC can enhance the proliferation of splenocytes,while it has no stimulatory effects on CD4+and CD8+T cells. TVC markedly increases the proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner and enhances the production of both nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by lipopolysaccharide-induced murine macrophages.The results indicate that TVC is an immunostimulant that can boost immune response.Comparison of the N-terminal amino acid residues and mass spectrometry results with the protein database revealed no homologous proteins.

Medicinal mushrooms in prevention and control of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening chronic metabolic disease caused by lack of insulin and/or insulin dysfunction,characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood(hyperglycemia).Millions worldwide suffer from diabetes and its complications.Significantly,it has been recognized that type 2 diabetes is an important preventable disease and can be avoided or delayed by lifestyle intervention.Presently,there are many chemical and biochemical hypoglycemic agents(synthetic drugs),that are used in treating diabetes and are effective in controlling hyperglycemia.However,as they may have harmful side-effects and fail to significantly alter the course of diabetic complications,natural anti-diabetic drugs from medicinal plants have attracted a great deal of attention.Medicinal mushrooms have been valued as a traditional source of natural bioactive compounds over many centuries and have been targeted as potential hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic agents.Bioactive metabolites including polysaccharides,proteins,dietary fibres,and many other biomolecules isolated from medicinal mushrooms and their cultured mycelia have been shown to be successful in diabetes treatment as biological antihyperglycemic agents.In this review we discuss the biological nature of diabetes and,in particular,explore some promising mushrooms that have experimental anti-diabetic properties,preventing or reducing the development of diabetes mellitus.The importance of medicinal mushrooms as agents of medical nutrition therapy and how their metabolites can be used as supportive candidates for prevention and control of diabetes is explored.Future prospects for this field of study and the difficulties and constraints that might affect the development of rational drug products from medicinal mushrooms are discussed.

Medicinal mushrooms in supportive cancer therapies:an approach to anti-cancer effects and putative mechanisms of action

Medicinal mushrooms have been valued as natural sources of bioactive compounds since times immemorial and have been recognized as potential immunomodulating and anti-cancer agents.Their consumption has consistently been shown to have beneficial effects on human health.Cancer is a generic term for several types of diseases that can be chronic and are responsible for a large number of deaths worldwide.Although there has been considerable progress in modern cancer therapy research,difficulties in understanding the molecular behavior of various types of cancers and the numerous side effects experienced by patients from treatments means that this whole subject area is still problematic.Thus,biological immunotherapy using natural bioactive compounds as supportive treatments in conventional cancer therapies has become in vogue.Bioactive metabolites isolated from medicinal mushrooms have shown potential successes in cancer treatment as biological immunotherapeutic agents that stimulate the immune system against cancer cells.They also act as an effective source of anti-cancer agents,capable of interfering with cellular signal transduction pathways linked to cancer development and progression.In this review we compile available data on the characteristics of medicinal mushrooms that appear to be particularly effective as biological immunotherapeutic agents.Major consideration is given to biological constituents and the putative mechanisms of action by which bioactive compounds act on the human body.Consideration is also given to the benefits that have been claimed for the use of mushrooms in treating cancer and the future prospects of using medicinal mushrooms as potent supportive candidate bioagents for treatment of cancers is discussed.

Identification of Common Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms by DNA Barcoding

Objective:To identify common edible and medicinal mushrooms using the internal transcribed spacer(ITS) region.Method:A total of eighty-five samples belonging to forty-three species were used in this study.ITS regions were amplified and sequenced.All ITS regions were analyzed using BLAST and MEGA 5.10 methods.Results:Forty species were identified correctly via BLAST method whereas forty-one species were distinguished via Neighbor joining(NJ)tree.All the species could be distinguished by BLAST combined with NJ tree and ITS sequence characteristics.Conclusion:Forty-three common species of edible and medicinal mushrooms were effectively identified using DNA barcoding technology based on ITS region.

Use of Wild-Growing Mushrooms for Therapeutic Purposes in the Perm Territory, Russia

On the Penn Territory （Prikamie）, Russia, a systematic study of agarics and aphyllophoroid mushrooms has been conducted since 1975. The territory belongs to taiga. At present about 900 species of agarics and about 300 species ofaphyllophoroid mushrooms have been discovered. 139 species of Phylum Basidiomycota （131 species） and Phylum Ascomycota （eight species） can be used for therapeutic purposes. The most common are mushrooms from families Russulaceae （15 species）, Agaricaceae （11 species）, Polyporaceae, Strophariaceae （10 species each）. A considerable part of mushrooms （31 species） has bactericidal properties and 26 species can be used for treating malignant tumors.

“Ganoderma lucidum sensu lato”-a sacred mushroom for immortality

Ganoderma lucidum sensu lato,is an ancient Chinese mushroom commonly known as“Reishi”or“Linghzi”which has been used for nutritional and therapeutic purposes.Reishi is a basidiomycete widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions.Among 2000 classes of Reishi,only 6 types are commonly presented to be effective for therapeutic purpose.These 6 types were known as black,red,blue,yellow,white and purple,respectively.Main constituents of Reishi are Polysaccharides,Triterpenoids,Sterols and Proteins.Reishi has been clinically used as immune system modulator,antiviral,cytotoxic agent,antibacterial,hepatoprotective,anti-inflammatory and also in the treatment of neurological disorders.The wide clinical scope of Reishi has influenced to name it in English with the nickname of“the mushroom of immortality”.

The coral mushrooms Ramaria and Clavaria

The need to improve the quality life together with the increase in the frequency of threating diseases direct the attention of many scientists to look for potential foods as a source of nutritional and therapeutical agents.Since ancient times,several mushrooms have been reported as a nutritious food with valuable medicinal properties.The genus Ramaria and Clavaria belonging to coral fungi are a group of edible mushrooms that are distributed all over the world.The studies on different species of Ramaria and Clavaria have revealed their medicinal potentials.This review aims to present the importance of genera Ramaria and Clavaria as both food and medicine,and they offer new insights to researchers to develop new drugs and nutraceuticals.

Morphology, Phylogeny and Culture Characteristics of Ganoderma gibbosum Collected from Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

Ganoderma is a genus of medicinally and economically important mushrooms in the family Ganodermataceae.Ganoderma species are popular medicinal mushrooms and their health benefits are well-documented.Ganoderma is a cosmopolitan genus that is widely distributed in both tropical and temperate regions.This genus is characterized by its unique laccate or non-laccate species with double-walled basidiospores.Here,we report on eight collections of G.gibbosum collected during surveys in Kunming,Yunnan Province,China.The specimens are described and illustrated based on macro-and micro-morphological characteristics.Total DNA of the eight G.gibbosum strains were extracted using the Biospin Fungal Extraction Kit following manufacturer protocol.Amplification of the Internal Transcribed Spacer(nrITS)region was carried out using ITS5/ITS4 primers and LROR/LR5 for the nuclear ribosomal large subunit 28S rDNA gene(LSU).Phylogenetic analysis with closely related species to G.gibbosum showed that all eight collections grouped with G.gibbosum with 100%bootstrap support.Phylogenetic similarity and morphological variations within the eight collections of G.gibbosum are discussed.

In vitro bone inducing effects of Lentinula edodes (shiitake) water extract on human osteoblastic cell cultures

The effect of Lentinula edodes water extract(LE)on two osteoblastic cell cultures(HOS 58 and Saos-2)was investigated to determine if this edible medicinal mushroom has osteoinductive properties.Activity of alkaline phosphatase and mineralization were used as indicators for the vitality and maturation of the bone cells.Cultivation of human osteosarcoma cells HOS 58 for five days in presence of a serial dilution of the aqueous extract of L.edodes(0.8μg/mL-125μg/mL)resulted in a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase activity(ALP)of the cells in comparison to untreated cells.Saos-2 cells,incubated with LE(20μg/mL)andb-glycerol phosphate(2 mM)for 21 days,displayed a 2 fold level of mineralization than cells cultured soley with the positive control,b-glycerophosphate.The obtained results clearly indicate the activity of LE as a bone inducing agent in vitro.Therefore,the shiitake mushroom(L.edodes)deserves attention as a supportive dietary treatment or nutraceutical in the case of diseases accompanied with bone disorder,such as osteoporosis,osteopenia,and late complication of diabetes.

Optimization of Mycelial Culture Conditions and Fructification of Lentinus Species Using Rice Straw and Sawdust Based Substrates

Lentinus(Basidiomycota,Polyporaceae)species are naturally-occurring mushrooms with nutritional and pharmacological importance.Unlike shiitake Lentinula edodes,a widely cultivated mushroom,Lentinus species are often ignored because they are underutilized and unpopular.However,like shiitake,Lentinus spp.could also be valuable resources of functional food and bioactive compounds.It is therefore of high interest to understand their cultural requirements leading to their efficient biomass production.Thus,this study established the optimal culture conditions for the maximum mycelial growth of seven wild strains under four Lentinus species.Their cultivation potentials were also determined using rice straw and sawdust(7:3 v/v)substrate formulation.Mycelia of all Lentinus strains evaluated favorably grew on coconut water gulaman(local crude agar)and other culture media for specific strain with suitable pH ranging from 5.0 to 8.0.Aeration was not a major physical factor for all Lentinus strains except L.squarrosulus strain 1,which favored sealed condition.Both lighted and dark conditions were found suitable for both strains of L.sajor-caju,L.strigosus strain 2 and L.swartzii whereas both strains of L.squarrosulus and L.strigosus strain 1 favorably grew in lighted condition.However,all Lentinus strains evaluated recorded the highest mycelial growth rates and thick mycelia at 30℃.In terms of fruiting body production,all Lentinus strains demonstrated cultivation potential.The seven Lentinus strains completely colonized the substrate for 18.0-25.6 days and initiated primordia for 21.6-33.5 days.The highest yield(52.5 g bag^(-1))and biological efficiency(10.5%)was recorded in L.strigosus strain 1,whereas the lowest was noted in L.strigosus strain 2 with 21.1 g bag^(-1) yield and 4.2%biological efficiency.L.sajor-caju strain 2 and L.squarrosulus strain 1 showed the widest cap diameter and longest stipe,respectively.The mycelial growth and fruiting body performance of Lentinus may vary depending on species and strains.Altogether,the seven new wild strains of Lentinus can be artificially cultivated by providing the nutritional and physical requirements.

The contribution of fungi to the global economy

Fungi provide ecological and environmental services to humans, as well as health and nutritional benefits, and are vital to numerousindustries. Fermented food and beverage products from fungi are circulating in the market, generating billions of USD.However, the highest potential monetary value of fungi is their role in blue carbon trading because of their ability to sequesterlarge amounts of carbon in the soil. There are no conclusive estimates available on the global monetary value of fungi, primarilybecause there are limited data for extrapolation. This study outlines the contribution of fungi to the global economy and providesa first attempt at quantifying the global monetary value of fungi. Our estimate of USD 54.57 trillion provides a starting point thatcan be analysed and improved, highlighting the significance of fungi and providing an appreciation of their value. This paperidentifies the different economically valuable products and services provided by fungi. By giving a monetary value to all importantfungal products, services, and industrial applications underscores their significance in biodiversity and conservation. Furthermore,if the value of fungi is well established, they will be considered in future policies for effective ecosystem management.

Bioactive metabolites from macrofungi: ethnopharmacology, biological activities and chemistry

Exploration of natural sources for novel bioactive compounds has been an emerging field of medicine over the past decades,providing drugs or lead compounds of considerable therapeutic potential.This research has provided exciting evidence on the isolation of microbe-derived metabolites having prospective biological activities.Mushrooms have been valued as traditional sources of natural bioactive compounds for many centuries and have been targeted as promising therapeutic agents.Many novel biologically active compounds have been reported as a result of research on medicinal mushrooms.In this review,we compile the information on bioactive structure-elucidated metabolites from macrofungi discovered over the last decade and highlight their unique chemical diversity and potential benefits to novel drug discovery.The main emphasis is on their anti-Alzheimer,antidiabetic,anti-malarial,anti-microbial,anti-oxidant,antitumor,anti-viral and hypocholesterolemic activities which are important medicinal targets in terms of drug discovery today.Moreover,the reader’s attention is brought to focus on mushroom products and food supplements available in the market with claimed biological activities and potential human health benefits.