Plasma Cholesterol-Lowering Activity of Lard Functionalized with Mushroom Extracts Is Independent of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 Protein and ABC Sterol Transporter Gene Expression in Hypercholesterolemic Mice

Research on the Action and Mechanism of Pharmacological Components of Omphalia lapidescens

Omphalia lapidescens is a macrofungus that is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its insecticidal and stagnation-relieving properties. The active ingredients of this fungus including proteins, polysaccharides and sterols have been demonstrated to exhibit antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. Omphalia has been used in clinical cancer treatment. Many studies on Omphalia have concentrated on its cytotoxicity and anticancer effects. However, the investigation of its natural metabolites remains a significant area for further research. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the research progress concerning the pharmacological components of Omphalia. The aim of this discussion is to provide a reference for further in-depth study of Omphalia, with the objective of exploring its potential value. Therefore, the focus of this review was on the classification of metabolites in Omphalia and their mechanisms of action.

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.

CM3-SII polysaccharide obtained from Cordyceps militaris ameliorates hyperlipidemia in heterozygous LDLR-deficient hamsters by modulating gut microbiota and NPC1L1 and PPARα levels

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that polysaccharides derived from edible fungi have lipid-lowering effects in mice. However, the lipid metabolism mechanisms in mice and humans are different. We have previously elucidated the structural characteristics of the alkali-extracted polysaccharide CM3-SII obtained from Cordyceps militaris. This study aimed to investigate whether CM3-SII could ameliorate hyperlipidemia in a heterozygous low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-deficient hamster model of hyperlipidemia. Our data demonstrated that CM3-SII significantly decreased total plasma cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in heterozygous LDLR-deficient hamsters. Unlike ezetimibe, CM3-SII could enhance the concentration of plasma apolipoprotein A1 and the expression of liver X receptor α/ATP-binding cassette transporter G8 mRNA pathway and suppress the expression of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1, which help to reduce cholesterol levels further. Moreover, the results of molecular docking analysis demonstrated that CM3-SII could directly bind to Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 with high affinity. The triglyceride-lowering mechanisms of CM3-SII were related to its downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Importantly, CM3-SII increased the abundance of Actinobacteria and Faecalibaculum and the ratio of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes. Thus, CM3-SII attenuated hyperlipidemia by modulating the expression of multiple molecules involved in lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota.

Dietary Fiber: An Opportunity for a Global Control of Hyperlipidemia

Dietary fiber has a long history in the intervention study of hyperlipidemia. In this review, current understandings of structures, sources, and natures of various kinds of dietary fibers (DFs) were analyzed first. Available evidences for the use of different varieties of DFs in the lipid-lowering action both in vitro and in vivo were subsequently classified, including both soluble ones, such as glucans, pectins, and gums, and insoluble ones, including arabinooxylans and chitosans, in order to draw a primary conclusion of their dose and molecular weight relationship with lipid-lowering effect. Their potential mechanisms, especially the related molecular mechanism of protective action in the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia, were summarized at last. Five major mechanisms are believed to be responsible for the antihyperlipidemic benefits of DFs, including low levels of energy, bulking effect, viscosity, binding capacity, and fermentation thus ameliorating the symptoms of hyperlipidemia. From the molecular level, DFs could possibly affect the activities of HMG-CoA reductase, LDL receptors, CYP7A1, and MAPK signaling pathway as well as other lipid metabolism-related target genes. In summary, dietary fibers could be used as alternative supplements to exert certain lipid-lowering effects on humans. However, more clinical evidence is needed to strengthen this proposal and its fully underlying mechanism still requires more investigation.

Modulation of human intestinal microbiota in a clinical trial by consumption of a β-D-glucan-enriched extract obtained from Lentinula edodes

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypocholesterolemic, immune- and microbiota-modulatory effect of a mushroom extract in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, double-blind, and parallel clinical trial was carried out with subjects from 18 to 65 years old (n = 52) with untreated mild hypercholesterolemia. Volunteers consumed a β-D-glucan-enriched (BGE) mixture (10.4 g/day) obtained from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) ensuring a 3.5 g/day of fungal β-D-glucans or a placebo incorporated in three different commercial creams.

RESULTS

This mixture showed hypocholesterolemic activities in vitro and in animal studies. After eight weeks intervention, no significant differences in lipid- or cholesterol-related parameters were found compared to placebo subjects as well as before and after the BGE mixture administration. No inflammatory or immunomodulatory responses were noticed and no changes in IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α or oxLDL were recorded. However, consumption of the BGE mixture was safe and managed to achieve the dietary fibre intake recommended as cardiovascular protective diet. Moreover, the BGE mixture modulated the colonic microbiota differently compared to placebo. Microbial community composition varied from before to after the intervention with several genera being positively or negatively correlated with some biomarkers related to cholesterol metabolism.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested a relation between cholesterol metabolism, microbiota and BGE administration. Nevertheless, the precise significance of this differential modulation was not fully elucidated and requires further studies.

Potential role of mycosterols in hyperlipidemia - A review

Cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity are alarmingly increasing in both developed and developing countries. Obesity is mainly ascribed to higher lipid accumulation in the body. There are several simple approaches to treat this condition like lifestyle modification, dietary intervention, physical activities, drug treatment etc. There are many drugs available in the market to treat hyperlipidemia condition, but those drugs have many fatal adverse effects on human health. In view of this, it is reasonable to suggest some preventive measures by functional food ingredients as human health has acclimatized to these since thousands of years. Phytosterols have been studied since decades for its hypocholesterolemic effect in human nutrition. Although the mycosterols from fungi are still under- exploited, ergosterol and derivatives from fungal source have promising health beneficial effects in obesity associated cardiovascular diseases. This review aims to summarise the investigations on mycosterol with respect to obesity in the last decade and also scope of future research on its application in functional food supplements.

In vitro and in vivo testing of the hypocholesterolemic activity of ergosterol- and β-glucan-enriched extracts obtained from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)

Herein, two shiitake fractions were obtained: the ergosterol-enriched fraction exerted higher in vitro hypocholesterolemic activity and the β-glucan-enriched fraction reduced the cholesterol levels in mice.

Extraction of bioactive compounds against cardiovascular diseases from Lentinula edodes using a sequential extraction method

Three extraction methods were sequentially combined to obtain fractions from Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushrooms) containing bioactive compounds against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Fruiting bodies were first extracted with plain water, obtained residue was then submitted to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and remaining residue submitted to hot water extraction. Sequential design allowed reutilization of the nonextracted material as raw material for the successive extractions increasing extraction yields and separating interesting compounds. Obtained fractions contained different amounts of ß-glucans, chitins, eritadenine, lenthionine, ergosterol, proteins/peptides and phenolic compounds conferring them different bioactivities. Water soluble fractions showed high antioxidant activities (ABTS^+• and DPPH^• scavenging capacity and reducing power), they were also able to inhibit one of the main enzymes involved in hypertension (angiotensin-I converting enzyme) and the key enzyme of cholesterol metabolism (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase). The latter inhibitory activity was also noticed in SFE extracts although ergosterol and other lipid-like molecules were isolated. Dietary fibers were separated in the third extraction. Therefore, with this sequential extraction procedure bioactive compounds against CVDs can be selectively separated from a single batch of shiitake powder. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:746-755, 2018.

A natural food ingredient based on ergosterol: optimization of the extraction fromAgaricus blazei, evaluation of bioactive properties and incorporation in yogurts

A. blazeibioresidues can be used to obtain promising high value-added food additives, following a circular bioeconomy concept.

Molecular actions of hypocholesterolaemic compounds from edible mushrooms

Edible mushrooms contain bioactive compounds able to modulate the expression of genes related to absorption, biosynthesis and transport of cholesterol and regulation of its homeostasis.