Factors Influencing Formation of Sclerotia in Grifola umbellate （Pers.） Pilaet Under Artificial Conditions

The effects of substrate composition and temperature on myceilal growth and sclerotium production in Grlfola umbellate （Pers.） Pilaet were Investigated In the present study. The Induction of sclerotla of G. umbellate was affected greatly by the type of medium, as well as the type of carbon source. Malt-extract agar was able to induce the production of sclerotia. The production of sclerotia was also observed when the carbon source in the GPC agar medium （glucose 20 g/L, peptone 6 g/L, corn steep liquor 10 g/L, and agar 15 g/L） was replaced with glycerol or mannitol. Altering the composition of the GPC medium with milk powder, thiamine hydrochlorlde, extract of Armlllarla mellea, active clay, dlatomite, kaolin, or arginlne did not induce the production of sclerotla. A temperature range of 18-25 ℃ was suitable for both mycellai growth and sclerotium formation. Glycerol significantly Induced slerotium formation on nutrient supplemented with sawdust substrates In bottle culture. 24S-Polyporusterone A and polyporusterone B were assayed In samples of natural and cultured sclerotla. Both natural and cultured sclerotla contained 24S- polyporusterone A and polyporusterone B.

Mechanisms of action of aqueous extract from the Hunteria umbellata seed and metformin in diabetes

The plant kingdom is an important potential source of effective treatment for various diseases.Most herbs have long been used for medicinal purposes,and plant metabolites with their derivatives had been used in ethnomedicine.However,concerns exist about the quality and safety of herbal medicine products,particularly relating to safety,dosage,and mechanism of action.This mini review reveals some insights about the Hunteria umbellate seed,which is similar to that of insulin secretagogue metformin.Studies have validated its beneficial role in hyperglycemic,insulin resistance and obesity conditions,which are components of metabolic syndrome.However,none of these studies evaluated the mechanisms by which this plant extract performs its antihyperglycemic,insulin resistance and anti-obesity actions in metabolic syndrome.This understanding would provide considerable progress toward drug design using this plant material.Hence the need for this awareness to sensitize the researchers in this field who are passionate about drug design to consider the pathways discussed below for Hunteria umbellata seeds.Hunteria umbellata seed extract may represent a new therapeutic strategy for type-2 diabetes in place of metformin if it is well-studied.

Jatonik polyherbal mixture induced rat liver MMPT pore opening in normal Wistar rat:In vitro and in vivo studies

Objective:To assess acute toxicity,the in vitro and in vivo effects of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts(JME and JEE)of Jatonik polyherbal mixture on some mitochondria-related parameters and their effect on the activity of some liver enzymes.Methods:Acute toxicity of JME and JEE was determined using Lorke’s method.In vitro and in vivo opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore(MMPT pore)was spectrophotometrically assayed.Production of malondialdehyde(MDA)as an index of lipid peroxidation and the activity of mitochondrial ATPase was evaluated in vitro and in vivo and the effect of JME and JEE on the activity of liver enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase(ALP),aspartate and alanine aminotransferase(AST and ALT)and gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT)was also investigated.Results:JME had an LD_(50) of 3808 mg/kg b.w whereas JEE had an LD_(50) greater than 5000 mg/kg b.w.of rats.After the rats have been fed with both extracts,a photomicrograph of a piece of liver tissue showed no apparent symptoms of toxicity.From the in vitro and in vivo studies,both extracts prompted intact mitochondria to open their MMPT pores.When compared to the control,lipid peroxide product release and ATPase activity were significantly increased(P<0.05)in vitro and in vivo.The activities of AST,ALT,and GGT were all reduced at 50 mg/kg when treated with JME,but the activity of AST was considerably enhanced when treated with JEE(P<0.05).The results revealed that both JME and JEE of the Jatonik polyherbal mixture had low toxicity,profound MMPTpore induction,and enhanced ATPase activity,but an increased MDA production.Conclusion:Jatonik extracts may be a promising target for drug development in diseases where there is dysregulation of apoptosis,however,further studies are needed to better clarify the molecular mechanism involved in these phenomena.