Edible mushrooms: Role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Lentinan alleviates angiotensin II-induced myocardial remodeling through LMP7-SOCS3 signaling

Myocardial remodeling is a major pathological mechanism causing heart failure. As a critical negative modulator of cardiac remodeling, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is regulated by immunoproteasome subunit large multifunctional peptidase 7 (LMP7). Lentinan (LNT), a β-polysaccharide extracted from Lentinus edodes, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of LNT in angiotensin II (Ang II)-triggered myocardial remodeling are unclear. Myocardial remodeling was established using Ang II infusion (1000 or 200 ng/kg/min) for 2 weeks. Cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were triggered by Ang II. LNT was administered daily by oral gavage to mice starting 1 day before Ang II or saline treatment. Here, we found that LNT supplementation dose-dependently ameliorated Ang II-triggered myocardial dysfunction and remodeling (hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation, and superoxide production). Mechanistically, LNT suppressed SOCS3 protein degradation by downregulating immunoproteasome LMP7 activity and expression, thereby inactivating downstream signaling, such as STAT3, ERK, AKT, NF-κB, and TGF-β. Conversely, SOCS3 knockdown significantly blocked the protective effect of LNT on myocardial remodeling in Ang II-infused mice. Together, our findings suggest that LNT may be a new therapeutic approach for myocardial remodeling and heart failure.

Edible and Medicinal Fungi as Candidate Natural Antidepressants: Mechanisms and Nutritional Implications

This systematic review examines the antidepressant potential of edible medicinal fungi (EMFs), focusing on their bioactive compounds and mechanisms of action. EMFs modulate neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA), alleviating depressive symptoms. Extracts from EMFs, such as Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Poria cocos, and Cordyceps militaris, demonstrate significant antidepressant-like effects in preclinical studies. Their bioactive compounds influence the tryptophan-kynurenine (KYN) pathway, regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and reduce neuroinflammation, all of which are linked to stress response and mood regulation. The review also explores the gut-brain axis, highlighting how EMF-derived polysaccharides improve gut health by modulating microbiota, potentially mitigating depressive symptoms. Additionally, it discusses the use of EMFs in functional foods and dietary supplements, innovations like 3D food printing for depression-related issues, and synthetic biology for enhancing compound production. Artificial intelligence is used to model complex mechanisms. However, challenges remain, such as standardization and lack of clinical validation. Future research should address these gaps, emphasizing personalized interventions and advanced technologies for next-generation antidepressant foods.

Optimization of triterpenoids biosynthesis in Athelia termitophila as a source of natural products

Triterpenoids exhibit considerable potential and are extensively utilized in both food and pharmaceutical industries. However, Athelia termitophila (TMB) naturally harbors only trace amounts of these compounds. Consequently, this study sought to optimize the composition of the culture medium and its cultivation parameters to augment both triterpenoids biosynthesis and TMB biomass. To this end, a series of systematic experiments were carried out. At the outset, a One Factor at a Time (OFAT) approach was employed to identify key culture components and conditions. Based on the OFAT findings, six factors were selected for further investigation using the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) to assess their influence on triterpenoids production and biomass yield. The PBD outcomes pinpointed three critical factors-cultural duration, yeast extract powder, and KH2PO4-each of which was subjected to further optimization through the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The BBD analysis determined the optimal culture medium and conditions: 30 g/L corn starch, 13.44 g/L yeast extract powder, 4.74 g/L KH2PO4, a liquid-to-volume ratio of 130/250 mL, 6% inoculum volumes, and a cultivation period of 7.8 days. Upon optimization, both triterpenoids yield (1.9-fold increase) and mycelial biomass (1.66-fold increase) were significantly enhanced compared to the unoptimized medium. This study not only provides a robust methodology for enhancing triterpenoids content and mycelial biomass in TMB, but also contributes novel insights into the biosynthesis of triterpenoids.

Unveiling the fungal frontier: mycological insights into inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic recurrent gastrointestinal disease that seriously affects the quality of life of patients around the world. It is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucous bloody stools. There is an urgent need for more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of IBD. Accumulated evidence suggests that gut microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of gut inflammation. However, most studies on the role of gut microbiota in IBD have focused on bacteria, while fungal microorganisms have been neglected. Fungal dysbiosis can activate the host protective immune pathway related to the integrity of the epithelial barrier and release a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines to trigger the inflammatory response. Dectin-1, CARD9, and IL-17 signaling pathways may be immune drivers of fungal dysbacteriosis in the development of IBD. In addition, fungal-bacterial interactions and fungal-derived metabolites also play an important role. Based on this information, we explored new strategies for IBD treatment targeting the intestinal fungal group and its metabolites, such as fungal probiotics, antifungal drugs, diet therapy, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). This review aims to summarize the fungal dysbiosis and pathogenesis of IBD, and provide new insights and directions for further research in this emerging field.

Salicylic acid-induced upregulation of AtAACT and AtMVD expression enhances triterpene biosynthesis in Athelia termitophila

Triterpenoids exhibit great potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries and are the predominant secondary metabolites of Athelia termitophila (TMB). AtAACT catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate in mevalonate biosynthesis, while AtMVD catalyzes the decarboxylation of mevalonate diphosphate, producing key precursors essential for triterpenoid synthesis. To augment the biosynthesis of TMB triterpenes, we cloned the AtAACT and AtMVD genes into plasmids, which were subsequently used to transform Escherichia coli. The resulting bacterial strains were used for sequencing and bioinformatic analyses to elucidate the encoded amino acid sequences. Furthermore, salicylic acid (SA) was employed as an elicitor to enhance triterpene biosynthesis in TMB. The SA treatment was initiated on the 6th day of incubation and maintained continuously across all time points (36, 48, and 60 h and others), achieving a maximal triterpene concentration of 41.83 ± 0.5 mg/100 mL, corresponding to a 26% increase compared to the uninduced group. Comparative transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression of AtAACT and AtMVD was significantly upregulated in the SA-treated group compared to the control. This upregulation underscores the crucial roles of these genes in facilitating triterpene biosynthesis in TMB. Furthermore, qPCR temporal profiling revealed that AtAACT achieved peak transcript levels at 36 h post-induction, whereas AtMVD peaked at 48 h. This study provides an effective strategy to enhance TMB triterpene content and offers new insights into the mechanisms of SA-treated triterpene biosynthesis.

The Assessment of Mercury Concentrations in Two Species of Edible Forest Mushrooms, Aureoboletus projectellus and Imleria badia, and Their Impact on Consumers' Health

In recent years, the consumption of wild mushrooms in Central Europe has significantly increased. These mushrooms are increasingly recognized as a nutritious, low-calorie, and environmentally friendly food option. They are a valuable source of protein and are rich in vitamins and minerals; however, they can also accumulate toxic elements that may pose risks to human health. This study examined the mercury concentrations in the fruiting bodies of two edible forest mushroom species: Aureoboletus projectellus and Imleria badia. This study took into account the distribution of Hg in the two morphological parts of mushroom fruiting bodies-the caps and the stipes. The total mercury content of the mushroom samples was analyzed using an AMA-254 analyzer. Both mushroom species exhibited higher mercury concentrations in their caps than in their stipes, with levels measuring 0.048 mg·kg-1 dry matter (DM) for Aureoboletus projectellus and 0.055 mg·kg-1 DM for Imleria badia. The mercury content in the stipes was 0.032 mg·kg-1 DM for Aureoboletus projectellus and 0.025 mg·kg-1 DM for Imleria badia. The results obtained indicate that these species do not pose a health risk to consumers in terms of Hg content and can be a valuable addition to the human diet. They are also an indicator of the quality of the forest environment of the central coast of Poland, which should be considered free of mercury pollution.

Characterization and comparison of chemical compositions and biological activities of an edible mushroom (Lactarius volemus) of three different sizes

Characterization and comparison of the chemical compositions and biological activities of Lactarius volemus of three different sizes (large size, medium size, small size) were investigated in this work. By comparing three sizes of Lactarius volemus, the small-sized Lactarius volemus had the highest content of crude fiber, fat, crude protein, total sugar, reducing sugar, polyphenols, and total flavonoids, whereas medium-sized Lactarius volemus showed the highest content of ash and total amino acids. Meanwhile, the small-sized Lactarius volemus also exhibited the best 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhy drazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, α-amylase inhibitory activity, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. The small-sized Lactarius volemus had the highest chemical composition content and the best biological activities among the three different sizes. This work might provide basic data support for guiding the development of Lactarius volemus and also instruct consumers in selecting and purchasing high-quality Lactarius volemus.

Unveiling the Synergistic Effect of Salicylic Acid on Triterpenoid Biosynthesis in Athelia termitophila: Elucidating the Molecular Underpinnings

This study investigates the dual role of salicylic acid (SA) in enhancing the production of triterpenes and elucidates its molecular regulatory mechanisms in the fungus Athelia termitophila (TMB), a rich source of bioactive triterpenoids vital to the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Our innovative approach involves the strategic application of SA during the mycelial growth phase, leading to a remarkable 21.87% increase in triterpene yield under optimized conditions of 200 μmol/L SA over 9 days. Pioneering in its methodology, our research employs Spearman correlation analysis to dissect the intricate relationship between triterpene content and gene expression within the mevalonate (MVA) pathway of A. termitophila. This analysis has identified four key genes-Acetyl-Coa Acetyltransferase (AACT), Squalene Epoxidase (SE), Phosphomevalonate Kinase (PMK), and Mevalonate Diphosphate Decarboxylase (MVD)-that are important for triterpene synthesis, providing new insights into the biosynthetic capabilities of A. termitophila. Furthermore, our application of cluster analysis has unveiled unprecedented expression patterns among critical genes, at specific growth intervals. This novel insight into the temporal dynamics of gene transcription during triterpene synthesis provides a comprehensive view of the biosynthetic process, setting the stage for targeted enhancement of triterpene production in A. termitophila. This investigation not only highlights TMB's potential as a biotechnological source of triterpenes but also provides critical insights into the underlying molecular pathways responsible for triterpene synthesis.

Association Between Consumption of Foods Containing Vitamin D and All-Cause Mortality in Korea

Sufficient vitamin D levels are reported to be a factor in reducing various chronic diseases and resulting mortality rates. Well-dried mushrooms and blue-backed fish are known to be rich in vitamin D. In this study, the association between mortality rates and the intake of vitamin D-rich foods was confirmed using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiological Study (KoGES). Among the KoGES database, we followed up a total of 6844 adults who participated in the Ansung-Ansan cohort study recruited from 2001 to 2002 and continued for an average of 16.7 years until 2018. The main findings were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. During follow-up, 439 cases of all-cause mortality, 149 cases of cancer-related mortality, and 91 cases of cardiovascular mortality were confirmed. In the fully adjusted model, the hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality in quartile 3 of mushroom consumption was 0.709 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.525-0.958) compared with quartile 1. In addition, the HRs for cardiovascular mortality in quartile 3 of mushroom consumption were 0.348 (95% CI, 0.154-0.787) compared with those in quartile 1. The HRs of cardiovascular mortality for quartiles 3 and 4 of fish consumption were 0.442 (95% CI, 0.226-0.865) and 0.533 (95% CI, 0.285-0.998), respectively, compared with quartile 1. In conclusion, moderate consumption of mushrooms was related to decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, while heightened fish consumption was inversely related to cardiovascular mortality.

Molecular Mechanism During Mycelium Subculture Degeneration of Volvariella volvacea

Periodic mycelial subculture is a method commonly used for the storage of edible mushrooms, but excessive subculturing can lead to the degeneration of strains. In this study, the Volvariella volvacea strain V971(M0) was successively subcultured on PDA medium every 4 days, and one generation of strains was preserved every 4 months. Thus, five generations of subcultured strains (M1-M5) were obtained after 20 months of mycelial subculturing, their production traits were determined, and transcriptomic analysis was performed using RNA-seq; the differentially expressed genes were verified via RT-qPCR. The results showed that as the number of subcultures increased, the diameter of the mycelium and biological efficiency gradually decreased; in addition, the time in which the primordium formed increased and the production cycle was lengthened, while strains M4 and M5 lacked the ability to produce fruiting bodies. There were 245 differentially expressed genes between the M1-M5 and M0 strains, while the highest number of differentially expressed genes was between M3 and M0, at 1439; the smallest number of differentially expressed genes was between M2 and M0, at 959. GO enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in metabolic processes, organelle components, and catalytic activities. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways. The further annotation of differentially expressed genes showed that 39, 24, and 24 differentially expressed genes were related to substrate degradation, amino acid synthesis and metabolism, and reactive oxygen species metabolism, respectively. The downregulation of the related differentially expressed genes would lead to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species, inhibit nutrient absorption and energy acquisition, and lead to the degradation of V. volvacea. These findings could form a theoretical basis for the degeneration mechanism of V. volvacea, and also provide a basis for the molecular function study of the genes related to strain degradation.

Optimization of Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus) By-Products Processing for Prospective Functional Flour Development

Stems are a major by-product of mushroom production. This study optimizes the transformation of Agaricus bisporus stems (ABS) and Pleurotus ostreatus stems (POS) into flour. ABS are attached to the peat, so, the process was divided into two steps. First, four cleaning methods were tested for ABS: pre-drying, brushing, abrasive peeling, and immersion in chlorinated water and brushing. Abrasive peeling was the most effective, showing the lowest color difference (9.18), total aerobic count (3.48 log cfu/g), and the highest profitability (1 kg/h). In the second step, ABS and POS were dried using a freeze-dryer, a dehydrator, and an oven. Dehydration resulted in stems with a lower browning index (24.57 in ABS and 29.95 in POS) than the oven, and a smaller energy consumption than the freeze-dryer. Finally, three dehydration temperatures (40, 50, and 60 °C) were compared. Dehydration at 50 °C resulted in faster moisture loss (24 h) and similar phenolic compound concentrations (3.35 and 7.69 mg GAE/100g fresh ABS and POS, respectively) than at 40 °C (32 h in ABS and 28 h in POS). In conclusion, the transformation of ABS and POS into flours requires processes that influence their chemical composition, physicochemical characteristics, and the profitability of their production. In this project, the optimal process involved cleaning ABS through abrasive peeling and dehydrating both ABS and POS at 50 °C for 24 h.

Heavy Metals and Associated Risks of Wild Edible Mushrooms Consumption: Transfer Factor, Carcinogenic Risk, and Health Risk Index

This research aims to investigate the heavy metals (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb) in the fruiting bodies of six indigenous wild edible mushrooms including Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus campestris, Armillaria mellea, Boletus edulis, Macrolepiota excoriate, and Macrolepiota procera, correlated with various factors, such as the growth substrate, the sampling site, the species and the morphological part (i.e., cap and stipe), and their possible toxicological implications. Heavy metal concentrations in mushroom (228 samples) and soil (114 samples) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the first part of the study, the soil contamination (index of geo-accumulation, contamination factor, and pollution loading index) and associated risks (chronic daily dose for three exposure pathways-ingestion, dermal, and inhalation; hazard quotient of non-cancer risks and the carcinogenic risks) were calculated, while the phytoremediation capacity of the mushrooms was determined. At the end of these investigations, it was concluded that M. procera accumulates more Cd and Cr (32.528% and 57.906%, respectively), M. excoriata accumulates Cu (24.802%), B. edulis accumulates Ni (22.694%), and A. mellea accumulates Pb (18.574%), in relation to the underlying soils. There were statistically significant differences between the stipe and cap (i.e., in the cap subsamples of M. procera, the accumulation factor for Cd was five times higher than in the stipe subsamples). The daily intake of toxic metals related to the consumption of these mushrooms with negative consequences on human health, especially for children (1.5 times higher than for adults), was determined as well.

In vitro effect of Lenzites betulinus mushroom against therapy-induced DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a group of diseases that are the result of reduced blood flow to the heart. There are natural products, based on mushrooms, used traditionally in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Assessment of the potential protective effect of L. betulinus mushroom against therapy-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes of patients with ACS in relation to the phytochemical properties of the mushroom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 30 ACS patients and 30 healthy controls. The genotoxic potential of acetone and ethanol extract of L. betulinus was evaluated using the comet assay. The contents of minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Determination of sugars and organic acids was performed using a DIONEX ICS 3000 DP liquid chromatography system. Analysis of fatty acids was performed at Focus GC coupled with PolarisQ mass spectrometer. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the mushroom extracts were measured using spectrophotometric methods. The qualitative and quantitative content of polyphenolic compounds was investigated by the UHPLC-DADMS/MS method.

RESULTS

The comet assay showed that both mushroom extracts did not increase the level of DNA damage in the lymphocytes of healthy individuals, while they significantly decreased the %DNA damage and genetic damage index (p < 0.0005) in the therapy-induced lymphocytes of patients. The mushroom was very rich in phytochemical composition. The results showed that the most abundant components in the mushroom were phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur, and calcium among minerals and glucose, fructose, galactose, sorbitol, and turanose among carbohydrates. Among organic acids were present in higher concentrations malic, citric, and maleic acids, while among fatty acids, the most abundant were trans-linoleic, cis-oleic, palmitic, docosahexaenoic and eicosadienoic acids. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenols and flavonoids in the mushroom extracts were obtained in the acetone extract. The most abundant polyphenolic compounds were chlorogenic acid and quercetin in both extracts of mushroom.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that L. betulinus can be considered a mushroom with a high nutritional and functional value. Extracts of the mushroom were not genotoxic in tested concentrations in cultured human lymphocytes of healthy individuals, while in ACS patients they manifested a protective effect against therapy-induced DNA damage. The acetone extract showed a stronger protective effect against therapy-induced DNA damage, which is consistent with its phytochemical composition.

Growth and Yield Performance of Pleurotus ostreatus Cultivated on Agricultural Residues

Food insecurity and malnutrition are among the major problems in most developing nations recently. Mushroom cultivation is one of the promising strategies to overcome these challenges. The growth and productivity of mushrooms differ because of their wide range of cultivation substrates. Cultivating Pleurotus ostreatus on suitable substrates is one of the key factors affecting its growth and productivity. This study was, therefore, conducted to investigate the effect of cultivation substrates, namely straws of tef (Trt1), barley (Trt2), and wheat (Trt3), husks of faba bean (Trt4) and field pea (Trt5), and sawdust (Trt6) alone, and their mixture (1:1, w/w) (Trt7) on the growth and yield of P. ostreatus. Mycelial colonization, primordial formation, and days to first harvest were faster (13.00, 19.67, and 22.67 days) for the P. ostreatus cultivated on Trt7 whereas those grown on Trt6 were delayed (18.00, 27.00, and 29.67 days), respectively. Trt7 gave a higher (67.33) fruiting body/bunch and total yield (2001.70 g/bag). Biological efficiency was also significantly (p < 0.05) higher for Trt7 (238.64%). Strong relationships between cap diameter and mushroom yield (r = 0.84***), number of bunches (r = 0.76***), number of fruiting bodies (r = 0.80***), stipe length (r = 0.83***), and total yield (r = 0.84***) were among significant positive correlations observed. In conclusion, cultivating P. ostreatus on the Trt7 (mixed substrate) is recommended rather than using either of the residues alone.

Edible mushrooms as an alternative to animal proteins for having a more sustainable diet: a review

BACKGROUND

High protein sources especially animal protein is being used widely in people's diet. Ensuring a healthy and sustainable diet should be a global priority. Compared to diets rich in animal products, plant-based diets are more sustainable because they have less environmental impact. Aim of this article is to review mushroom's sustainability.

MAIN BODY

Using meat analogues like mushrooms seems to be a good option because their taste and texture are alike meat and they are sustainable healthy foods as they are good environmental choice due to their less water and land footprint but they are not a cost-benefit food.

CONCLUSION

Mushroom is a good nutritional and environmental meat substitute as it has less water and land footprint but not as a cost-benefit meat alternative. Therefore, the governments should make policies to use mushroom as an economical meat alternative and a source of protein for all consumers.

Edible mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae) extract vs. glibenclamide on alloxan induced diabetes: sub-acute in vivo study of Nrf2 expression and renal toxicity

The study aims to compare the action of Pleurotus cornucopiae and glibenclamide on alloxan-induced diabetes and ascertain how an aqueous extract of the edible mushroom regulates the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), oxidative stress biomarkers and renal toxicity in a diabetic male Wistar rat model. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into five groups with five rats per. Group 1 and those in the treatment groups received normal feed and water ad libitum. Group 2 received intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight). Group 3 received alloxan monohydrate and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight bwt), group 4 received alloxan monohydrate plus the extract (250 mg/kg bwt) and group 5 received alloxan monohydrate plus the extract (500 mg/kg bwt). The administration of glibenclamide plus the extract was oral for 14 days. Glibenclamide and the extract lowered blood glucose level, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rats with alloxan induced diabetes. The extract at 500 mg/kg bwt reduced the plasma urea and sodium concentration in the treated rats. The extract and glibenclamide could detoxify alloxan and restore its induced renal degeneration and glomeruli atrophy, intra renal hemorrhage and inflammation and oxidative biomarkers through activation of Nrf2 expression. The drug glibenclamide and P. cornucopiae have appreciable hypoglycemic activity and potential to restore the normal renal architecture in the rats, hence they offer similar curative effects. Additionally, the extract at 500 mg/kg bwt activated SOD and Nrf2 expression more than glibenclamide in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes.

Reshaped commensal wound microbiome via topical application of Calvatia gigantea extract contributes to faster diabetic wound healing

Background

Calvatia gigantea (CG) is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for wound treatment. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of CG extract (CGE) on diabetic wound healing and the commensal wound microbiome.

Method

A wound model was established using leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice, with untreated mice as the control group and CGE-treated mice as the treatment group. The wound healing rate, inflammation and histology were analyzed. Additionally, wound microbiome was evaluated via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing.

Results

CGE significantly accelerated the healing of diabetic ulcer wounds, facilitated re-epithelialization, and downregulated the transcription levels of the inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, CGE treatment positively affected the wound microbiome, promoting diversity of the microbial community and enrichment of Escherichia-Shigella bacteria in the CGE-treated group.

Conclusions

Overall, CGE enhanced diabetic wound healing by modulating the wound microbiome and facilitating macrophage polarization during inflammation. These findings suggest modulation of the commensal wound microbiome using medicinal plants as a potential therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds.

Phytochemical profile, bioactivity, and molecular docking studies of natural edible mushrooms grown in Tokat and Sivas provinces of Turkey

Mushrooms have been essential to the human diet because they contain balanced chemical components and some biologically active substances. In this work, we investigated the phenolics, essential oils, metal contents, antioxidant, antibacterial, DNA protective, and enzyme inhibition activities for Clitocybe geotropa, Ramaria aurea, Rhizopogon luteolus (RL), Russula delica (RD), Verpa bohemica, and Marasmius oreades mushrooms. Results exhibited a higher content for citric and succinic acids in all tested kinds. Further, we detected a high content of cis-9-oleic acid, linoleate, and cis-11-eicosanoate. All mushroom species contain a significant percentage of both Cu and Zn. Moreover, RL and RD recorded the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. Furthermore, all samples showed standard to good antioxidant activity, and the same is true for the antibacterial and DNA protective activities. Enzyme inhibition activity was generally high and significantly higher against the urease than the thiourea. We applied molecular docking between the highest phenolic molecules with the urease to determine the mushroom extracts' high inhibition mechanism. In conclusion, all mushroom species revealed a variety in chemical content that is probably related to their multi-bioactivity.

Experimental Models in Unraveling the Biological Mechanisms of Mushroom-Derived Bioactives against Aging- and Lifestyle-Related Diseases: A Review

Mushrooms have garnered considerable interest among researchers due to their immense nutritional and therapeutic properties. The presence of biologically active primary and secondary metabolites, which includes several micronutrients, including vitamins, essential minerals, and other dietary fibers, makes them an excellent functional food. Moreover, the dietary inclusion of mushrooms has been reported to reduce the incidence of aging- and lifestyle-related diseases, such as cancer, obesity, and stroke, as well as to provide overall health benefits by promoting immunomodulation, antioxidant activity, and enhancement of gut microbial flora. The multifunctional activities of several mushroom extracts have been evaluated by both in vitro and in vivo studies using cell lines along with invertebrate and vertebrate model systems to address human diseases and disorders at functional and molecular levels. Although each model has its own strengths as well as lacunas, various studies have generated a plethora of data regarding the regulating players that are modulated in order to provide various protective activities; hence, this review intends to compile and provide an overview of the plausible mechanism of action of mushroom-derived bioactives, which will be helpful in future medicinal explorations.

Transcriptome Reveals the Key Genes Related to the Metabolism of Volatile Sulfur-Containing Compounds in Lentinula edodes Mycelium

Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) is a globally popular edible mushroom because of its characteristic sulfur-containing flavor compounds. However, the formation of the volatile sulfur-containing compounds in the mycelium of L. edodes has not been studied. We found that there were also sulfur-containing aroma compounds in the mycelium of L. edodes, and the content and composition varied at different stages of mycelial growth and development. The γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) and cysteine sulfoxide lyase (C-S lyase) related to the generation of sulfur compounds showed the highest activities in the 15-day sample. Candidate genes for the metabolism of volatile sulfur compounds in mycelium were screened using transcriptome analysis, including encoding the GGT enzyme, C-S lyase, fatty acid oxidase, HSP20, and P450 genes. The expression patterns of Leggt3 and Leccsl3 genes were consistent with the measured activities of GGT and C-S lyase during the cultivation of mycelium and molecular dynamics simulations showed that they could stably bind to the substrate. Our findings provide insights into the formation of sulfur-containing flavor compounds in L. edodes. The mycelium of L. edodes is suggested for use as material for the production of sulfur-containing flavor compounds.

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides in mushrooms

Mushrooms are distinguished as important food-containing polysaccharides possessing potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. These compounds belong mostly to polysaccharides that are mostly β-D-glucans. Among them, β-1,3-glucan with β-1,6 side chains of glucose residues, has more important roles in their properties. In this review, we have introduced polysaccharides mainly from Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus citrinopileatus with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. In addition, the mechanisms of activation of their physiological properties and signal cascade are also reviewed.

Isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activities of sesquiterpenes and phthalides from two edible mushrooms Pleurotus species

Antimicrobial compounds were purified from culture filtrates from 2 edible Pleurotus species. Using a bioassay-guided fractionation of the culture filtrate extracts, 3 compounds (1-3) were obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus, and another compound (4) was obtained from Pleurotus pulmonarius. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that 1-3 was identified as 5,7-dimethoxyphthalide, 4,6-dimethoxyphthalide, and cheimonophyllon E, respectively, while 4 were identified as pleuroton A. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of these compounds were determined against 6 pathogenic bacterial species, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae. Compounds 2 and 4 were inhibitory against all tested bacteria, while 1 and 4 were inhibitory against 3 and 2 species, respectively. In addition, 1-4 inhibited tyrosinase, with IC50 values of 0.10-0.30 mg/mL, and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values of 0.12-0.54 mg/mL. However, their antioxidant capacities were marginal.

Properties of Yogurts Enriched with Crude Polysaccharides Extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus Cultivated Mushroom

Increasingly, consumers are looking for products with specific nutritional and health-promoting properties. The answer of the producers for this demand is fortified food. The raw material that can be used to enrich food is, among others, mushrooms. Crude water soluble polysaccharides (cWSP) were isolated from fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster) mushroom. Chemical analysis showed that they consisted mainly of carbohydrates (~61%), protein (~9%) and phenolics (~0.8%). The isolated cWSP were used to obtain enriched cow milk set yogurts. cWSP were added at the concentration of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%, and milk containing no cWSP was prepared as the control. All of the variants were fermented via applying two commercially available culture starters. The addition of cWSP led to a drop in pH in the case of one starter culture. Also, the decline in total soluble solids (TSS) content was higher where cWSP was used for the enrichment. Texture profile analysis (TPA) revealed that parameters of hardness and gumminess increased along with the concentration of cWSP (reaching values approximately 7-8 times higher, compared to the control). A significant increase in syneresis level (proportional to cWSP concentration and ranging from ~10% to ~50%) was also observed after the fermentation. Fortifying milk with cWSP led to a slight increase in antioxidant capacity in FRAP assay (up to ~12%) and ABTS assay (up to ~23%). The results demonstrate that using cWSP to enrich set-type yogurts is fairly limited.

Review of postharvest processing of edible wild-grown mushrooms

Edible wild-grown mushrooms, plentiful in resources, have excellent organoleptic properties, flavor, nutrition, and bioactive substances. However, fresh mushrooms, which have high water and enzymatic activity, are not protected by cuticles and are easily attacked by microorganisms. And wild-grown mushroom harvesting is seasonal the harvest of edible wild-grown mushrooms is subject to seasonality, so their market availability is challenging. Many processing methods have been used for postharvest mushroom processing, including sun drying, freezing, packaging, electron beam radiation, edible coating, ozone, and cooking, whose effects on the parameters and composition of the mushrooms are not entirely positive. This paper reviews the effect of processing methods on the quality of wild and some cultivated edible mushrooms. Drying and cooking, as thermal processes, reduce hardness, texture, and color browning, with the parallel that drying reduces the content of proteins, polysaccharides, and phenolics while cooking increases the chemical composition. Freezing, which allows mushrooms to retain better hardness, color, and higher chemical content, is a better processing method. Water washing and ozone help maintain color by inhibiting enzymatic browning. Edible coating facilitates the maintenance of hardness and total sugar content. Electrolytic water (EW) maintains total phenol levels and soluble protein content. Pulsed electric field and ultrasound (US) inhibit microbial growth. Frying maintains carbohydrates, lipids, phenolics, and proteins. And the mushrooms processed by these methods are safe. They are the focus of future research that combines different methods or develops new processing methods, molecular mechanisms of chemical composition changes, and exploring the application areas of wild mushrooms.

Nature's Own Pharmacy: Mushroom-Based Chemical Scaffolds and Their Therapeutic Implications

Mushrooms are new potential sources of valuable medicines, long neglected because of difficulties experienced in their cultivation. There is a large variety of medicinal mushrooms which possess significant therapeutic properties and are used as medications for various diseases because they contain several novel highly bioactive components. Medicinal mushrooms can be identified based on their morphology, size, mass, and the color of the stalk, cap and spore, and attachment to the stalk. Medicinal mushrooms possess a variety of important biological activities and are used as antioxidants, hepatoprotectors, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial agents, among others. This review provides a basic overview of the chemical scaffolds present in mushrooms and their therapeutic implications in the human body.

Edible mushroom intake and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality: results from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Cohort

Mushroom is rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and essential amino acids. A relationship between mushroom consumption and a lower all-cause mortality risk has been reported. This study aimed to examine the association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Data were extracted from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study cohort. Mortality outcomes were confirmed from 2001-2020 death records provided by the Korea National Statistical Office. Mushroom intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires and categorized into four groups: none, <1 serving per week, 1-3 servings per week, and ≥3 servings per week. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality. The 152 828 participants ≥40 years had a mean age of 53.7 years. Over a mean 11.6-year follow-up, 7085 deaths were recorded. In men, consuming <1 and 1-3 servings per week of mushroom was associated with lower risks of all-cause (HR = 0.858, 95% CI = 0.793-0.929; HR = 0.902, 95% CI = 0.819-0.993) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (HR = 0.767, 95% CI = 0.632-0.930; HR = 0.762, 95% CI = 0.601-0.967) mortality than non-consumption. In women, consuming <1 and 1-3 servings per week of mushrooms was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.864, 95% CI = 0.784-0.952; HR = 0.869, 95% CI = 0.771-0.980) than non-consumption. This prospective cohort study demonstrated that low and medium mushroom consumption is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in men and women. However, only men who consumed <1 and 1-3 servings per week of mushrooms exhibited a lower risk of CVD mortality.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of some Syrian wild mushroom (Agaricus spp) strains

This research aims to study the chemical content (moisture, ash, fat, protein, fiber and carbohydrate), phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of the fruit bodies resulting from the cultivation of six edible Syrian wild mushroom strains of the Agaricus genus. These strains were collected from the western countryside of Homs governorate in Syria (Agaricus bispours BR5, Agaricus bispours B.R.9, Agaricus sinodeliciosus BR17, Agaricus qilianensis BR22, Agaricus sinodeliciosus BR42 and Agaricus qilianensis BR47) and were compared to the commercially cultivated Agaricus bisporus strain Sylvan A15 as a control. The results showed that wild strains had a good chemical composition. The BR47 had the highest protein content among the studied strains (29.52%), which was close to the content of the control (28.55%). All strains recorded higher carbohydrate content compared to the control (p < 0.01), and BR42 had the highest content (72.24%). The fat content in the studied strains ranged from 1.68 to 5.34%, and they were all less than the control (7.29%). BR9 was marked by a high phenol content (1.93 mg.g-1 of dry weight), while the control had higher antioxidant activity (82.41%). A strong correlation was noted between antioxidant activity, protein, fat and ash. Some studied strains showed nutritional value and distinctive biological properties, indicating they can be used for food and pharmaceutical purposes.

Motivators and impediments to mushroom commercialisation in Ghana: Implication for policymakers, development partners and extension agents

Waste (organic waste) management is a major challenge for urban and peri-urban areas all over the world. This is because landfilling raises greenhouse gas emissions, whereas indiscriminate refuse dumping wastes valuable nutrients and energy that are still present in the refuse. Fungi, such as mushrooms, have the unique ability to decompose and transform obstinate organic substances into protein. The government, private sector, and foreign development partners in Ghana's Greater Accra region have invested in mushroom (oyster) production to boost commercialization for economic development. However, commercialization remains low, and significant income gains from mushroom commercialization have yet to be realised. Psychosocial factors are imperative for agricultural commercialization because they create a thriving environment and incentive for agricultural commercialization in general, and mushroom commercialization in specific. To determine the motivations and impediments to mushroom commercialization, we used a questionnaire to survey 153 oyster mushroom producers censused from the Ga East and the Adentan municipalities in the Greater Accra region. The data was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), means and standard deviations. Our results showed three [3] motivators: social awareness, economic value, and market incentives, and three [3] impediments: institutional and personal weakness, market uncertainty, and value chain challenges. The major motivators to mushroom commercialization are social awareness (M = 3.94) and economic value (M = 3.93) whereas the major impediments comprised market uncertainty (M = 3.59) and institutional and personal weaknesses (M = 3.29). We recommend that policy effort to create enabling institutional environment and social awareness of mushroom coupled with development partners' and extension agents' effort to train farmers on mushroom production management are key to enhancing commercial mushroom production in Ghana. NB: M=Mean.

Changes in Lacto-Fermented Agaricus bisporus (White and Brown Varieties) Mushroom Characteristics, including Biogenic Amine and Volatile Compound Formation

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in Agaricus bisporus (white and brown) characteristics (colour and acidity parameters, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and mould/yeast counts, biogenic amine content, fatty acid (FA) and volatile compound (VC) profiles, overall acceptability, and emotions induced for consumers) during a 48 h lactic acid fermentation with Lacticaseibacillus casei No. 210, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum No. 135, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei No. 244, and Pediococcus acidilactici No. 29 strains. Fermented white and brown A. bisporus showed higher LAB count and lower pH, lightness, redness, and yellowness than non-fermented ones. Yeast and fungi counts were similar between non-fermented and fermented samples. All samples contained spermidine (on average, 191.5 mg/kg) and some of the fermented samples had tyramine (on average, 80.7 mg/kg). Saturated FA was the highest in non-fermented brown A. bisporus. The highest monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FA contents were found in Lp. plantarum No. 135 fermented white and brown A. bisporus, respectively. For the first time, the VC profile of fermented A. bisporus was analysed. 1-Octen-3-ol content significantly decreased while benzyl alcohol, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol increased in most fermented samples. Fermented A. bisporus received good acceptability scores. The emotional evaluation showed that the LAB strain and the interaction of the LAB strain and A. bisporus variety were significant on the intensity of emotions "happy" and "sad", while all analysed factors and their interactions were significant on the intensity of "angry" and "disgusted" (p ≤ 0.05). The findings of this study show the potential of the selected LAB strains and contribute to the increasing body of research on fermented mushrooms.

Nicotine in the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus, endogenous biosynthesis?

In early 2009 nicotine was unexpectedly detected in dried mushroom samples. As its origin has not yet been elucidated, this study addressed possible endogenous synthesis of nicotine. Therefore, Agaricus bisporus fruiting bodies were grown in a representative and controlled (nicotine-free) setup. Fruiting bodies (fresh versus stored, intact versus processed (sliced/cooked)) from different harvest days and flushes were analysed with a validated, sensitive dilute-and-shoot UHPLC-MS/MS methodology for nicotine and its precursors putrescine and nicotinic acid. Neither storage nor processing initiated any endogenous nicotine biosynthesis (detection limit 1.6 ng g^-1 fresh weight). In contrast, putrescine and nicotinic acid were detected in all samples, with increasing amounts in the different treatments. In silico analysis of the fully sequenced genome of A. bisporus confirmed its inability to produce nicotine. The data obtained do not provide evidence for natural, endogenous presence of nicotine in mushrooms, indicating an exogenous contamination source (e.g. contamination during hand-picking, sample preparation/analysis).

Edible mushrooms as potential functional foods in amelioration of hypertension

Edible mushrooms are popular functional foods attributed to their rich nutritional bioactive constituent profile influencing cardiovascular function. Edible mushrooms are omnipresent in various prescribed Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Mediterranean diet, and fortified meal plans as they are rich in amino acids, dietary fiber, proteins, sterols, vitamins, and minerals. However, without an understanding of the influence of mushroom bioactive constituents, mechanism of action on heart and allergenicity, it is difficult to fully comprehend the role of mushrooms as dietary interventions in alleviating hypertension and other cardiovascular malfunctions. To accomplish this endeavor, we chose to review edible mushrooms and their bioactive constituents in ameliorating hypertension. Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are interrelated and if the former is managed by dietary changes, it is postulated that overall heart health could also be improved. With a concise note on different edible varieties of mushrooms, a particular focus is presented on the antihypertensive potential of mushroom bioactive constituents, mode of action, absorption kinetics and bioavailability. Ergosterol, lovastatin, cordycepin, tocopherols, chitosan, ergothioneine, γ-aminobutyric acid, quercetin, and eritadenine are described as essential bioactives with hypotensive effects. Finally, safety concerns on allergens and limitations of consuming edible mushrooms with special reference to chemical toxins and their postulated metabolites are highlighted. It is opined that the present review will redirect toxicologists to further investigate mushroom bioactives and allergens, thereby influencing dietary interventions for heart health.

Effect of water-soluble polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta on high-fat diet-induced obese mice: changes in gut microbiota and metabolic functions

Morchella esculenta polysaccharides exhibit numerous probiotic activities, but their regulatory effects on the gut microbiota are unclear. This study was conducted to explore whether M. esculenta polysaccharides can regulate dysbacteriosis caused by a high-fat diet and relieve obesity. We extracted a water-soluble polysaccharide from M. esculenta (MPF, purity: 96.19%, consisting of 55.97% glucose, 9.63% xylose, and 22% mannose) that reduces mouse fat accumulation, alleviates obesity, and relieves liver injury, after 90 days of high-fat diet intake. This polysaccharide reversed dysbiosis and regulated the abundance of gut microbiota caused by a high-fat diet (restoring the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and changing the abundances of Lactobacillus, Dubosiella, and Faecalibaculum), increasing short-chain fatty acids and decreasing gene expression in the liver (glucose 6-phosphatase, glucose transporter 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR) receptor-1α, PPARα, PPARγ, and CCAAT enhancer binding protein α). We identified a regulatory relationship between polysaccharides, gut microbiota, and the liver as a potential mechanism by which polysaccharides can alleviate obesity.

Recent advance in quality preservation of non-thermal preservation technology of fresh mushroom: a review

Fresh mushrooms have a long history of cultivation and consumption, but high postharvest losses are a concern in the commercial production of mushrooms worldwide. Thermal dehydration is widely used in the preservation of commercial mushrooms, but the flavor and taste of mushrooms are significantly altered after dehydration. Non-thermal preservation technology, which effectively maintains the characteristics of mushrooms, is a viable alternative to thermal dehydration. The objective of this review was to critically assess the factors affecting fresh mushroom quality after preservation is remarkable, with the ultimate goal of developing and promoting non-thermal preservation technology for preserving fresh mushroom quality, effectively extending the shelf life of fresh mushrooms. The factors influencing the quality degradation process of fresh mushrooms discussed herein include the internal factors associated with the mushroom itself and the external factors associated with the storage environment. We present a comprehensive discussion of the effects of different non-thermal preservation technologies on the quality and shelf life of fresh mushrooms. To prevent quality loss and extend the shelf life after postharvest, hybrid methods, such as physical or chemical techniques combined with chemical techniques, and novel nonthermal technologies are highly recommended.

β-(1,3)-D-glucan from <em>Pleurotus ostreatus</em> correlates with lower plasma IL-6, IL-1β, HOMA-IR, and higher pancreatic beta cell count in High-Fat and High-Fructose Diet (HFFD) rats

Introduction: The increasing consumption of high-fat and high-fructose foods contributes to the increasing prevalence of global obesity. Low-grade chronic inflammation in obesity is a significant risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of β-(1,3)-D-glucan from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) extract on rats fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet. Design and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged eight weeks. The rats were divided into groups given a normal (N) diet, a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD), D1 (HFFD+125 mg/kg BW β-glucan), D2 (HFFD+250 mg/kg BW β glucan), and D3 (HFFD+375 mg/kg BW β-glucan) with an intervention of 14 weeks. IL-6 and IL-1β levels were measured by the ELISA method, while HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance) was calculated by the fasting insulin (ng/mL) x fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/405 formula. Pancreatic beta-cell counts were measured by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results: The results showed no differences in IL-6 and IL-1β between the treatment groups. However, there were significant differences in HOMA-IR and pancreatic beta-cell counts between groups. There were negative correlations between the dose of β-glucan and IL-6, IL-1β, and HOMA-IR levels. Also, there was a positive correlation between the dose of β-glucan and the number of pancreatic beta cells. Conclusions: Administration of β-(1,3)-D-glucan from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) extract prevented hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, also reduced inflammation in rats fed with HFFD regardless of weight gain.

Appraisal of Antioxidant Potential and Natural Bioactive Compound Determination through HPLC from Two Saprotrophic Amanita (Agaricomycetes) Species from Pakistan

The present study was carried out to investigate and identify bioactive compounds along with antioxidant capacity, total flavonoids and total phenolic contents from two saprophytic Amanita species, i.e., mushrooms A. manicata (Berk. & Broome) Pegler and A. nana Singer. Antioxidant potential was assessed by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay, total phenolics, and flavonoids. Both mushrooms were found to possess antioxidants and wide range of phenolics and bioactive compounds. There was maximum percent inhibition (83.2 ± 0.120%) on DPPH by A. manicata. However, maximum percent inhibition using ABTS was found to be 79.5 ± 0.251% by A. nana. Similarly, A. nana possesses maximum amount of both flavonoids and phenolics i.e., 0.3473 ± 0.0088 mg/100 g of catechin and 0.097 ± 0.0011 mg/100 g of GAE equivalent, respectively. Both mushrooms exhibited a variety of natural compounds such as P-coumaric acid, M-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, ferulic acid etc. Ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cinnamic acid were also detected in A. manicata. A. manicata exhibited best and greater antiradical potential than A. nana due the presence of excessive natural bioactive compounds. From the reported results, it was revealed that both inedible mushrooms could be a potential source of antioxidants and secondary metabolites and might be used for making novel drugs in future by pharmaceutical industries.

Scrutinizing the Nutritional Aspects of Asian Mushrooms, Its Commercialization and Scope for Value-Added Products

Mushrooms are the gifts of the non-green revolution; they are not limited by land demand or specific growth requirements. Nearly 14,000 species of mushrooms are on record thus far; of these, only 2200 species are deemed edible. Only 650 species from this list have been cultivated and consumed. Farmed on waste, mushrooms are rich reservoirs of proteins, polysaccharides, metabolites, minerals and vitamins. In the following review, various edible mushrooms have been listed and their nutritional aspects and their associated contributions have been discussed. Furthermore, the commercial mushroom-based products that are on the market have been surveyed. The challenges facing the use of mushroom and mushroom products as foods, functional foods and nutraceuticals have been presented. The need to seek options to troubleshoot the current limitations has also been discussed.

Nutritional Profiling and Antioxidant Property of Three Wild Edible Mushrooms from North East India

The mushroom is an important food for the rural tribal populations in Manipur, because of its high nutritional contents. In this study, we report on the nutritional profile of three wild edible mushrooms consumed by the tribal populations of Manipur viz.: Macrocybe gigantea J124; Lactifluus leptomerus J201 and Ramaria thindii J470. The studied mushrooms possess a high protein content of 37.6%, 20.8% and 16.4%, respectively. They have a high vitamin C content with low vitamin B1, B2 and folic acid. Among the three mushrooms, M. gigantea J124 possesses the highest mineral content, followed by R. thindii J470 and L. leptomerus J201. The total phenolic content of L. leptomerus J201, M. gigantea J124 and R. thindii J470 were 26.206, 29.23 and 30.99 mg GAE/g, with flavonoid content of 6.646, 6.854 and 9.187 mg quercetin/g, respectively. R. thindii J470 has the highest TPC and TFC content, which correlates with its DPPH radical scavenging activity. The IC50 values for R. thindii J470, M. gigantea J124 and L. leptomerus J201 are 242.0 µg/mL, 550.4 µg/mL and 689.0 µg/mL, respectively, which suggest that the higher content of phenolic compounds in R. thindii J470 contributes to its radical scavenging properties.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Five Medicinal Mushrooms of the Genus Pleurotus

Within the group of higher fungi, edible medicinal mushrooms have a long history of being used as food and in folk medicine. These species contain biologically active substances with many potential beneficial effects on human health. The Pleurotus genus is representative of medicinal mushrooms because Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the most commonly cultivated culinary mushrooms. In our study, we focused on lesser-known species in the genus Pleurotus and measured their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. We prepared extracts of the mushrooms and analyzed them using HPLC−HRMS, GC−MS, and ¹H-NMR. Significant differences in biological activities were found among the Pleurotus spp. extracts. A MeOH extract of P. flabellatus was the most active as a radical scavenger with the highest ORAC, while a chloroform extract had significant anti-inflammatory COX-2 activity. The 80% MeOH extract of P. flabellatus contained the highest amounts of ergosterol, ergothioneine, and mannitol. The 80% MeOH extract of P. ostreatus Florida was the most active in the NF-κB inhibition assay and had the highest content of β-glucans (43.3% by dry weight). Given the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of P. flabellatus, the potential therapeutic usefulness of this species is worth evaluating through in-depth investigations and confirmation by clinical trials.

Biopreservation of Wild Edible Mushrooms (Boletus edulis, Cantharellus, and Rozites caperata) with Lactic Acid Bacteria Possessing Antimicrobial Properties

There is scarce data on the influence of fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the quality and safety of edible mushrooms. The aim of this study was to ferment Suillus luteus, Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, and Rozites caperata with LAB strains (Lacticaseibacillus casei LUHS210 and Liquorilactobacillus uvarum LUHS245) and to evaluate the influence of this technology on colour characteristics, pH, mould/yeast count, liking, emotional response, volatile compound (VC) profile, and the formation of biogenic amines (BA). Additionally, ultrasonication or prolonged thermal treatment were applied before fermentation. The LUHS245 strain showed better preservation properties in the case of fungal inhibition; however, prolonged thermal treatment and/or ultrasound pre-treatment ensure safer fermentation. Mushroom species and type of pre-treatment had a significant effect on colour coordinates and pH (p ≤ 0.0001). A greater variety of VC was identified in pre-treated and fermented samples. Significant differences were found between the emotions induced in consumers. The lowest sum of BA was found in thermally pre-treated and fermented R. caperata, while the highest was in ultrasonicated and fermented B. edulis. Finally, despite good overall acceptability, it is important to select appropriate LAB strains for the fermentation of edible mushrooms to ensure their safety in the case of BA formation.

Characterization of a Novel Protease Inhibitor from the Edible Mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Background:

Protease inhibitors inhibit the activity of protease enzymes, hence are essentially involved in the regulation of the metabolic processes involving protease enzymes and protection the host organism against external damage due to proteases. These inhibitors are abundantly present in all living organisms but have not been much reported in mushrooms. Mushrooms are one of the major food components of humans with delicious taste and high nutritional value. Mushrooms also have therapeutic and economic significance. The edible mushrooms with medicinal properties are much in commercial demand. To date, the presence of protease inhibitors has not been reported much in edible mushrooms. The present study reports the characterization of a protease inhibitor isolated from the common white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus.

Objective:

The objective of the present study is to characterize the novel protease inhibitor from Agaricus bisporus to determine its nature and activity at varying environmental conditions.

Method:

The protease inhibitor was characterized through SDS PAGE, gel filtration chromatography, and de novo sequencing to determine its molecular mass, and sequence respectively. The optimum pH and temperature, and the pH and thermal stability were studied to determine the optimum working range of the protease inhibitor. The protease inhibitory activity (%) was determined in presence of metal ions, surfactants, oxidizing agents, and reducing agents. The kinetic parameters and the type of inhibition exhibited by the protease inhibitor were determined using casein and trypsin protease enzyme.

Results:

The protease inhibitor was found to be a low molecular mass compound of 25 kDa. The de novo sequencing matched the inhibitor against a 227 amino acid containing peptide molecular mass of 24.6 kDa molecular mass. The protease inhibitory activity (%) was found highest at pH 7.0 and temperature 50 0C, and was stable from pH 4.0-9.0 and temperature 30-80 0C. In presence of metal ions, the residual protease inhibitory activity (%) enhanced in presence of Na+, Mg2+, and Fe3+. The residual activity increased in presence of the surfactant SDS slightly in comparison to control, while decreased in the case of Triton-X and Tween 20. The presence of oxidizing agents, hydrogen peroxide, and dimethyl sulfoxide decreased the residual inhibitory activity. The protease inhibitor was unaffected by the reducing agents: dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol up to 2mM concentration but decreased at higher concentrations. The inhibitor exhibited uncompetitive inhibition against trypsin with an inhibitory constant of 166 nM, indicating a strong affinity towards the protease, with a half-life of 93.90 minutes at 37 0C.

Conclusion:

Protease inhibitors isolated from mushrooms are generally small in size, more stable, and tolerant towards varying external conditions. The protease inhibitor isolated from Agaricus bisporus also exhibited similar characteristics.

Wild mushrooms from Ilgaz Mountain National Park (Western Black Sea, Turkey): element concentrations and their health risk assessment

The purpose of this study was to determine Fe, Cd, Cr, Se, P, Cu, Mn, Zn, Al, Ca, Mg, and K contents of some edible (Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Clavariadelphus truncatus, Clitocybe nebularis, Hydnum repandum, Hygrophorus pudorinus, Infundibulicybe gibba, Lactarius deliciosus, L. piperatus, L. salmonicolor, Macrolepiota mastoidea, Russula grata, Suillus granulatus, and Tricholoma imbricatum), inedible (Amanita pantherina, Geastrum triplex, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Hypholoma fasciculare, Phellinus vorax, Pholiota limonella, Russula anthracina, and Tapinella atrotomentosa), and poisonous mushroom species (Amanita pantherina and Hypholoma fasciculare) collected from Ilgaz Mountain National Park (Western Black Sea, Turkey). The element contents of the mushrooms were determined to be 18.0-1239.1, 0.2-4.6, 0.1-3.4, 0.2-3.2, 1.0-8.9, 3.3-59.9, 3.7-220.4, 21.3-154.1, 6.4-754.3, 15.8-17,473.0, 413.0-5943.0, and 2803.0-24,490.0 mg·kg^-1, respectively. In addition to metal contents, the daily intakes of metal (DIM) and Health Risk Index (HRI) values of edible mushrooms were also calculated. Both DIM and HRI values of mushroom species except L. salmanicolor, M. mastoidea, and R. grata were within the legal limits. However, it was determined that the Fe content of L. salmanicolor and M. mastoidea and Cd content of R. grata were above the legal limits.

Mushrooms as Potential Sources of Active Metabolites and Medicines

Background

Mushrooms exist as an integral and vital component of the ecosystem and are very precious fungi. Mushrooms have been traditionally used in herbal medicines for many centuries.

Scope and Approach

There are a variety of medicinal mushrooms mentioned in the current work such as Agaricus, Amanita, Calocybe, Cantharellus, Cordyceps, Coprinus, Cortinarius, Ganoderma, Grifola, Huitlacoche, Hydnum, Lentinus, Morchella, Pleurotus, Rigidoporus, Tremella, Trametes sp., etc., which play a vital role in various diseases because of several metabolic components and nutritional values. Medicinal mushrooms can be identified morphologically on the basis of their size, color (white, black, yellow, brown, cream, pink and purple-brown, etc.), chemical reactions, consistency of the stalk and cap, mode of attachment of the gills to the stalk, and spore color and mass, and further identified at a molecular level by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions of gene sequencing. There are also other methods that have recently begun to be used for the identification of mushrooms such as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), microscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), DNA sequencing, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), chemical finger printing, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LCMS-TOF) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Lately, the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique is also used for the identification of fungi.

Key Finding and Conclusion

Medicinal mushrooms possess various biological activities like anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, anti-HIV, anti-diabetic, and many others that will be mentioned in this article. This manuscript will provide future direction, action mechanisms, applications, and the recent collective information of medicinal mushrooms. In addition to many unknown metabolites and patented active metabolites are also included.

γ-Glutamyl-β-phenylethylamine, a novel α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory compound from Termitomyces robustus, an edible Nigerian mushroom

Termitomyces species are known edible mushrooms in Nigeria, believed to have exceptional culinary and nutraceutical properties. Methanol extract from fruiting bodies of Termitomyces robustus was evaluated for antidiabetic activity using in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase assays. The isolation and structural elucidation of metabolites from the T. robustus extract afforded five compounds including a new natural product γ-glutamyl-β-phenylethylamine 3 and four known phenyl derivatives: tryptophan 1, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 2, 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid 4, and phenyllactic acid 5. Structures were elucidated from analyses of spectroscopic data (1 D and 2 D NMR, HRESIMS) and all isolated compounds were tested for α-amylase and α-glycosidase inhibitory activity. The in vitro assay established crude extract to possess α- amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition with IC₅₀ of 78.05 µg/mL and 86.10 µg/mL, respectively. The isolated compounds compared favourably with the standard drug, acarbose with IC₅₀ ranging from 6.18-15.08 µg/mL and 18.28-44.63 µg/mL for α-amylase and glucosidase, respectively.

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.

Sulphation and Hydrolysis Improvements of Bioactivities, and Immuno-Modulatory Properties of Edible Amanita hemibapha Subspecies javanica (Corner and Bas) Mucilage Polysaccharide as a Potential in Personalized Functional Foods

In this study, the mucilage polysaccharide (MP) from Amanita hemibapha subspecies javanica was prepared by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation and then fractionated using anion-exchange chromatography equipped with a DEAE Sepharose fast flow column. The most immune-enhancing polysaccharide fraction 2 (MPF2) was subjected to a structural modification such as hydrolysis or over-sulphation. The sulphate and molecular weight (Mw) of over-sulphated (OS1-3) and hydrolysed (HS1-3) derivatives of MPF2 differed between 9.85% and 14.2% and 32.8 and 88.1 × 103 g/mol, respectively. Further, the immune-enhancing properties of MPF2 and its derivatives were tested on RAW264.7 and NK cells through various in vitro assays. Interestingly, a low molecular weight of HS1-3 significantly increased the nitric oxide (NO) production (p < 0.05) more than MPF2, indicating that Mw is a major factor in RAW264.7 cell stimulation. In addition, RAW264.7 cells produced various cytokines by up-regulating mRNA expression levels and the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. On the other hand, OS1-3-treated natural killer (NK) cells induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells through the expression of IFN-γ, Grandzyme-B, perforin, NKp30, and FasL. These results demonstrated that sulphate derivatives play an important role in NK cell activation. Further, this study also explores how polysaccharide binds to RAW264.7 and NK cells. MPF2 and HS3 may activate RAW264.7 cells via binding to TLR4 receptors, and OS2 could be activated through the CR3 signalling pathways.