Evaluating the therapeutic potential of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) against DMBA-induced breast cancer in Sprague Dawley rats

Exploring Anticancer Potential of Aqueous, Hydroethanolic and Methanolic Extract of an Age-old <i>Unani</i> Formulation

Background: Cancer poses a foremost public health challenge worldwide. Several cancer types are preventable and treatable, provided that cancer is diagnosed at an early stage. The derivatives of plant metabolites such as camptothecin, podophyllotoxin, vinca, and others have been a crucial source of numerous clinically effective anti-cancer agents. Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of a traditional Unani formulation against cancer cell lines. Methods: A compound Polyherbal Unani Formulation (PUF) mentioned in the Unani text Kamil-Us-Sana to evacuate Khilt-e-Sawdā’ in the chapter of Saraṭān (Cancer) was selected to screen its anti-cancer potential against A-549, HeLa, MCF-7 and B16F10 cells. Aqueous, hydroethanolic (1:1), and methanolic extract of PUF was prepared and tested. Results: Total phenolics and flavonoids were detected in significant quantities in PUF. PUF and its ingredients exhibited powerful anti-oxidant potential in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assay. Methanolic extract of PUF was found most potent cytotoxic (IC50 value of 28.50±1.53 μg/mL) in B16F10 cells, almost equal to positive control doxorubicin (IC50 24.62±0.19 μg/mL). PUF also increased the caspase-3 activity in HeLa and A-549 cells, suggesting apoptosis induction. The cytotoxic activity of PUF may be attributed to the effect of its ingredients in MCF-7 cells and other cancer cell lines. Conclusion: Present findings validate the traditional claim mentioned in the Unani text and open up a new avenue for further research to explore molecular mechanisms and development of this Unani formulation for effective cancer management. Major Findings: Present study demonstrated the cytotoxic potential of a traditional polyherbal Unani formulation with IC50 values ranging from 28.50±1.53 μg/mL to 207.86±1.24 μg/mL in HeLa, A-549, MCF-7, and B16F10 cancer cells. The methanolic extract of PUF exhibited greater cytotoxic potential compared to hydro-ethanolic and aqueous extract. The cytotoxic effects of PUF are likely due to its ingredients, which have been reported to have cytotoxic activity in other cancer cell lines.

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Karanjin Against DMBA-Induced Breast Cancer in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats Through Modulation of SMAR1 and CDP/CUx genes

PURPOSE

To investigate the chemoprotective potential of karanjin against 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty-six female rats were utilized for the study. Breast cancer was induced through a subcutaneous injection of 35 mg/kg DMBA. The animals were allocated to six groups. Three groups were allocated for karanjin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg), and received daily treatment for 20 weeks (including 2 weeks as pre-treatment). Doxorubicin (4 mg/kg) was administered to the standard control group twice a week for 20 weeks. The disease control (DC) and normal control (NC) groups received daily treatment with saline. After the treatment, oxidative stress parameters, biochemical parameters, and inflammatory parameters were estimated. CCAAT-displacement protein/cut homeobox (CUP/Cux) and scaffold/matrix attachment region binding protein 1 (SMAR1) expression levels were measured through gene expression analysis. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed to estimate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2).

RESULTS

Tumor growth reduced significantly (P-value < 0.01) in karanjin-treated animals compared to the DC group. Karanjin significantly (P-value < 0.01) regulated the levels of oxidative stress parameters, biochemical parameters, and inflammatory parameters compared to the DC group. Karanjin treatment significantly (P-value < 0.001) regulated the expression levels of SMAR1 and CDP/Cux. A notable reduction in the IHC scores was observed for ER, PR, and HER2 expression in karanjin groups.

CONCLUSION

Karanjin demonstrated chemoprotective activity against DMBA-induced breast cancer in animals potentially through modulation of SMAR1 and CDP/Cux gene expression and reduction of ER, PR and HER2 expression levels.

Evaluation of natural polysaccharides from edible mushrooms for the treatment of male testicular injury caused by X-ray

Radiation exposure can lead to reproductive damage (RD), for which there is currently no effective treatment. Natural compounds, particularly fungal polysaccharides, have shown promising therapeutic potential for RD. Due to limited availability of effective polysaccharides, research has turned to alternative sources from edible mushrooms. This study evaluated polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii, Agaricus bisporus, Coprinus comatus, and Pleurotus citrinopileatus for their effects on male mice subjected to X-ray radiation. Histological analysis demonstrated significant damage to testicular tissue following X-ray exposure, alongside altered antioxidant markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Blood tests revealed mild leukopenia, erythropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Notably, the positive control groups treated with A. bisporus polysaccharides (ABPs) and Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides showed increased SOD and GSH-Px levels by 46.5% and 7.3%, and 15.9% and 10.1%, respectively, compared to the untreated group. MDA levels were reduced by 62.4% with ABP and by 32.1% with Coprinus comatus polysaccharides. ABPs were the most effective, significantly enhancing WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, and platelets by 58.3%, 8.9%, 30.6%, and 24.6%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of polysaccharides from edible fungi as natural therapeutic agents for mitigating radiation-induced reproductive damage. Future research on such compounds may pave the way for effective RD treatments.

A Comprehensive Review of the Diversity of Fungal Secondary Metabolites and Their Emerging Applications in Healthcare and Environment

Fungi and their natural products, like secondary metabolites, have gained a huge demand in the last decade due to their increasing applications in healthcare, environmental cleanup, and biotechnology-based industries. The fungi produce these secondary metabolites (SMs) during the different phases of their growth, which are categorized into terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides. These SMs exhibit significant biological activity, which contributes to the formulation of novel pharmaceuticals, biopesticides, and environmental bioremediation agents. Nowadays, these fungal-derived SMs are widely used in food and beverages, for fermentation, preservatives, protein sources, and in dairy industries. In healthcare, it is being used as an antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive drug. The usage of modern tools of biotechnology can achieve an increase in demand for these SMs and large-scale production. The present review comprehensively analyses the diversity of fungal SMs along with their emerging applications in healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and nutraceuticals. Here, the authors have reviewed the recent advancements in genetic engineering, metabolic pathway manipulation, and synthetic biology to improve the production and yield of these SMs. Advancement in fermentation techniques, bioprocessing, and co-cultivation approaches for large-scale production of SMs. Investigators further highlighted the importance of omics technologies in understanding the regulation and biosynthesis of SMs, which offers an understanding of novel applications in drug discovery and sustainable agriculture. Finally, the authors have addressed the potential for genetic manipulation and biotechnological innovations for further exploitation of fungal SMs for commercial and environmental benefits.

Implementation of plant extracts for cheddar-type cheese production in conjunction with FTIR and Raman spectroscopy comparison

Plant extracts have demonstrated the ability to act as coagulants for milk coagulation at an adequate concentration, wide temperatures and pH ranges. This research is focused on the use of different vegetative extracts such as Citrus aurnatium flower extract (CAFE), bromelain, fig latex, and melon extract as economical and beneficial coagulants in the development of plant-based cheddar-type cheese. The cheddar-type cheese samples were subjected to physicochemical analysis in comparison to controlled cheese samples made from acetic acid and rennet. The fat, moisture, protein, and salt contents remained the same over the storage period, but a slight decline was observed in pH. The Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increased with the passage of the ripening period. The FTIR and Raman spectra showed exponential changes and qualitative estimates in the binding and vibrational structure of lipids and protein in plant-based cheeses. The higher FTIR and Raman spectra bands were observed in acid, rennet, bromelain, and CAFE due to their firm and strong texture of cheese while lower spectra were observed in cheese made from melon extract due to weak curdling and textural properties. These plant extracts are economical and easily available alternative sources for cheese production with higher protein and nutritional contents.

Impacts of preparation technologies on biological activities of edible mushroom polysaccharides - novel insights for personalized nutrition achievement

Edible mushroom polysaccharides (EMPs) as a natural macromolecular carbohydrate have a very complex structure and composition. EMPs are considered ideal candidates for developing healthy products and functional foods and have received significant research attention due to their unique physiological activities such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor/cancer, gut microbiota regulation, metabolism improvement, and nervous system protection. The structure and monosaccharide composition of edible mushroom polysaccharides have an unknown relationship with their functional activity, which has not been widely studied. Therefore, we summarized the preparation techniques of EMPs and discussed the association between functional activity, preparation methods, structure and composition of EMPs, laying a theoretical foundation for the personalized nutritional achievements of EMP. We also establish the foundation for the further investigation and application of EMPs as novel functional foods and healthy products.

Antibacterial Activities of Agaricus bisporus Extracts and Their Synergistic Effects with the Antistaphylococcal Drug AFN-1252

Agaricus bisporus, commonly known as the button mushroom, has attracted attention for its biological properties, including antimicrobial activities. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of ethanolic and acetonic extracts from white and brown A. bisporus against different bacterial strains, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Bioautography and principal component analysis identified the most active antibacterial compounds for each of the tested bacteria and indicated the main markers responsible for the strain-specific effects. In addition, the mushroom extracts demonstrated a synergistic impact when combined with the antistaphylococcal antibiotic AFN-1252.

Exploring Therapeutic Potential of Pleurotus ostreatus and Agaricus bisporus Mushrooms against Hyperlipidemia and Oxidative Stress Using Animal Model

The mushrooms oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) and white button (Agaricus bisporus) contain bioactive compounds that have potential beneficial effects on hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, hypolipidemic and antioxidative potential of these mushrooms' extract were explored using hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats as animal model. For the study, 56 adult rats were divided into seven groups, i.e., G1 (negative control), G2 (positive control group), G3 (HC rats with statin drug orally), G4 and G5 (HC rats @ 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) dose of oyster mushroom extracts), and G6 and G7 (HC rats @ 100 and 200 mg/kg BW dose of white button mushroom extracts). The hypercholesterolemia was induced experimentally in fasted rats through a high-fat diet along with injection of triton WR-1339. After 48 h, the treatment groups were given extract for 28 days along with standard diet. At the trial termination, we analyzed the blood sugar levels, antioxidant parameters, lipid profile, and renal function, as well as conducting liver function tests of the rats. The results indicated that positive control group rats exhibited increased levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density level (LDL), and very-low-density level (vLDL) by 19%, 37%, 52%, and 32%, respectively, and 53% decrease in HDL, whereas treatment groups that received 200 mg oyster and white button mushroom extracts reported 15%, 34%, 22% reduction in TC, TG, vLDL, respectively, and 22% improvement in HDL level. The enzyme profiles of different groups showed non-significant differences, although both mushroom extracts provision reduced glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels. Overall, the results indicated that mushroom extracts were helpful in maintaining oxidative stress and have the potential to improve dyslipidemia in the tested rat animal model.