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We analyzed the changes in triterpenes and soluble polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum strain G0119 during 4 growth phases in 3 regions of the fruiting bodies using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and we also analyzed the soluble polysaccharides using high-performance size-exclusion chroma-tography-multiple-angle laser-light scattering refractive index analysis. The strong polar triterpenes decreased while weak polar triterpenes increased during the growth cycle of G. lucidum. The highest contents of ganoderic acid B, ganoderic acid A, and ganoderenic acid B were detected in the stipe during phase II, and ganoderic acid S, ganoderic acid T, and ganoderiol B peaked in the base during phase IV. The total content of soluble polysaccharides in samples decreased after the primordium developed into a fruiting body. Two high-molecular-weight fractions were detected in the soluble polysaccharide samples: α-l,4-glucan and β-l,3-glucan, respectively. They were primarily distributed in the pileus during phase II, and both decreased after this phase. These results led us to select a more suitable growth phase and region for harvesting to obtain extracts with higher contents of triterpenes and soluble polysaccharides.

In the present study, root cell suspension cultures of W. somnifera were elicited with mycelial extract (1% w/v) and culture filtrate (5% v/v) of their native endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus 2aWF in shake flask. Culture filtrate of A. terreus 2aWF significantly elicits withanolide A at 6H (12.20 ± 0.52 µg/g FCB). However, with A. terreus 2aWF mycelial extract, withanolide A content was higher at 24H (10.29 µg/g FCB). Withanolide A content was maximum with salicylic acid (0.1 mM) treatment at 24H (8.3 ± 0.20 µg/g FCB). Further, expression analysis of withanolide pathway genes, hydrogen peroxide production, and lipid peroxidation was carried out after 48H of elicitation with 2aWF mycelial extract and culture filtrate. The expression levels of withanolides biosynthetic pathway genes, viz. HMGR, DXR, FPPS, SQS, SQE, CAS, SMT1, STE1 and CYP710A1 were quantified by real time PCR at 48H of elicitation. In all the treatments, the expression levels of key genes were significantly upregulated as compared to untreated suspension cells. Hydrogen peroxide was noticeably enhanced in SA, mycelia extract and culture filtrate, at 20% (115 ± 4.40 nM/g FCB), 42% (137.5 ± 3.62 nM/g FCB), and 27% (122.8 ± 1.25 nM/g FCB) respectively; however, lipid peroxidation was 0.288 ± 0.014, 0.305 ± 0.041 and 0.253 ± 0.007 (µM/gm FCB) respectively, higher than the control (0.201 ± 0.007 µM/gm FCB).

Functional bacteria that could biotransform triterpenoids may exist in the diverse microflora of fish intestines. Ganoderic acid A (GAA) is a major triterpenoid from the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum. In studying the microbial biotransformation of GAA, dozens of intestinal bacteria were isolated from the excreta of zebrafish. The bacteria&rsquo, s ability to catalyze GAA were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis. One positive strain, GA A07, was selected for functional studies. GA A07 was confirmed as Bacillus sp., based on the DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. The biotransformed metabolite was purified with the preparative high-performance liquid chromatography method and identified as GAA-15-O-&beta, glucoside, based on the mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. The present study is the first to report the glycosylation of Ganoderma triterpenoids. Moreover, 15-O-glycosylation is a new microbial biotransformation of triterpenoids, and the biotransformed metabolite, GAA-15-O-&beta, glucoside, is a new compound.

A chemical investigation of a basidiomycetes fungus, Perenniporia maackiae, led to the discovery of 12 drimane sesquiterpenoids, including seven new constituents (1–7). The elucidation of the structures was performed via interpreting extensive spectroscopic methods, including ECD calculations. Among all isolated compounds, 1, 2, and 6 exhibited cytotoxicity toward six carcinoma cells, including ACHN, HCT-15, MDA-MB-231, NCI-H23, NUGC-3, and PC-3 cells, with half-maximal inhibition of cell proliferation values of 1.2–6.0 μM.

Lanostane triterpenoids are major metabolites of macrofungi from the genus Ganoderma and possess enormous substitution diversity and remarkable biological activities, especially anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. The present phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of nine undescribed lanostane triterpenoids and five known analogues from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma luteomarginatum, which was first phytochemically studied by our group. Chemical structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. (5α,23E)-27-nor-lanosta-8,23-dien-3,7,25-trione and (5α,23E)-27-nor-3β-hydroxylanosta-8,23-dien-7,25-dione are undescribed triterpenoids with an unusual 27-nor-lanostane carbon skeleton. All isolates were assayed for their cytotoxic activities using four human cancer cell lines (HGC-27, HeLa, A549, and SMMC-7721) and one human normal cell line (LO2), and the structure-cytotoxicity relationships were preliminarily explored. (5α,24E)-3β-acetoxyl-26-hydroxylanosta-8,24-dien-7-one exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against HeLa and A549 cell lines, with IC50 values of 1.29 and 1.50 μM, respectively.

The mannofucogalactan as a major component of water extract was obtained from fruit bodies of Fomitopsis officinalis by extraction with boiling water followed by deproteination, decoloration, and purification using anion-exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. Its structure was characterized using the data of monosaccharide composition, methylation analysis, one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The studied polysaccharide was a branched mannofucogalactan with a backbone composed of partially 3-O-methylated 1,6-O-linked α- D -galactopyranosyl residues. Almost every second residue in the backbone was substituted at O-2 by 3-O-α- D -mannopyranosyl-α- L -fucopyranosyl and β- D -galactopyranosyl residues. The non-reducing terminal α- L -fucopyranosyl units, which were identified by GC–MS analyses, appeared to be the part of mannofucogalactan side chains also.

The present study aimed to determine the total antioxidant status TAS total oxidant status TOS and oxidative stress index OSI of ethanol extracts of Helvella leucomelaena Pers Nannf and Sarcosphaera coronaria Jacq J Schr ouml t Mushrooms collected from Gaziantep province TAS TOS and OSI values were determined with Rel Assay Diagnostics kits It was determined that the TAS values of H leucomelaena and S coronaria mushrooms were and respectively and the TOS values were and respectively OSI values were calculated as and for H leucomelaena and S coronaria mushrooms respectively As a result it has been determined that fungi have high oxidant levels despite antioxidant potential nbsp

The α-Amylase and α-glucosidase are two main enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. This study was aimed at detecting alpha-amylase inhibitory activity from edible mushroom mycelia. Oyster mushroom was collected from a natural source, from Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) campus and was maintained in vitro in mycelial form. Chloroform, acetone, methanol, and water were used separately for extraction of an active constituent from mycelial cells grown, for 7 days, in potato dextrose broth. The extracts were tested for alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. Chloroform, acetone, and methanol extracts were found to have alpha-amylase inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 1.71, 224, and 383 μg/mL, respectively. Aqueous extract had no enzyme inhibitory activity. The acetone extract inhibited α-amylase non-competitively whereas chloroform extract showed competitive inhibition. Acetone extraction yielded highest total phenolic content (TPC) of 0.524 mM of gallic acid equivalent, whereas chloroform extraction resulted in lowest TPC of 0.006 mM. The HPLC and absorbance maxima of acetone and chloroform extracts suggest that the bioactive component responsible for enzyme inhibition could be glycoproteins in chloroform extract and catechins (flavonoids) in acetone extract. Thus, the mushroom mycelia under study may be exploited for production and purification of a lead compound for the development of the α-amylase inhibitory drug.

A variety of fungi, plants, and their different tissues are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to improve health, and some of them are recommended for dietary therapy. Many of these plants and fungi contain antifungal proteins and peptides which suppress spore germination and hyphal growth in phytopathogenic fungi. The aim of this article is to review antifungal proteins produced by medicinal plants and fungi used in Chinese medicine which also possess anticancer and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) enzyme inhibitory activities.

Objective: To establish a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) method for the determination of triterpenoids and distinction of Ganoderma and related species. Methods: Ten ganoderma triterpenoids were determined by HPLC in addition to a QAMS method. On the basis of QAMS, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to distinguish Ganoderma samples. Results: Ten types of ganoderma triterpenoids had good linearity of regression coefficients (R2 ≥ 0.9992). Relative correction factors (RCFs) of lucideric acid C, lucideric acid LM1, ganoderic acid G, lucideric acid B, lucideric acid A, ganoderenic acid D, ganoderic acid D, lucideric acid D and ganoderic acid F with reference to ganoderic acid A were 0.929, 1.011, 0.608, 1.041, 0.997, 2.464, 0.891, 0.826 and 0.722, respectively. Ten types of ganoderma triterpenoids in twenty-nine batches of Ganoderma and related species were determined by QAMS. Nineteen batches of samples containing ganoderma acid A were roughly divided into three categories by PCA and CA. Conclusion: The developed QAMS method, in combination with PCA and CA, served as an accurate method for the rapid evaluation and authenticity identification of Ganoderma.

Ganoderic acid S, ganoderic acid T and ganoderal B are the main bioactive triterpenes of Ganoderma lucidum. In this study, mycelia of G. lucidum were obtained by two-stage fermentation and then extracted by ethanol and petroleum ether sequentially to obtain crude triterpenes. The crude sample was further purified by recycling high-speed counter-current chromatography with n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (7:12:11:5, v/v/v/v) as the optimized two-phase solvent system. A 16.4 mg aliquot of ganoderol B with a purity of 90.4% was separated from 300 mg of the crude sample in a single run. After employing the recycling elution mode of HSCCC with n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (6:10:8:4.5, v/v/v/v) for five cycles, 25.7 mg ganoderic acid T and 3.7 mg ganoderic acid S with purities of 97.8 and 83.0%, respectively, were obtained. The purities of three compounds were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and their chemical structures were identified by NMR and MS data.

Dysentery is an inflammation of the intestine caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica and is a recurrent health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Because of the magnitude of this disease, finding novel strategies for treatment that does not affect human cells is necessary. Ergosterol peroxide is a sterol particularly known as a major cytotoxic agent with a wide spectrum of biological activities produced by edible and medicinal mushrooms. The aim of this report is to evaluate the amoebicidal activity of ergosterol peroxide (5α, 8α-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol isolated from 5α, 8α-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol) (Jacq.) P. Kumm. f. sp. Florida. Our results show that ergosterol peroxide produced a strong cytotoxic effect against amoebic growth. The inhibitory concentration IC50 of ergosterol peroxide was evaluated. The interaction between E. histolytica and ergosterol peroxide in vitro resulted in strong amoebicidal activity (IC50 = 4.23 nM) that may be due to the oxidatory effect on the parasitic membrane. We also tested selective toxicity of ergosterol peroxide using a cell line CCL-241, a human epithelial cell line isolated from normal human fetal intestinal tissue. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the cytotoxicity of ergosterol peroxide against E. histolytica, which uncovers a new biological property of the lipidic compound isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. f. sp. Florida.

The culinary and medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus is widely consumed in Asian countries, but apparently not in the United States, for its nutritional and health benefits. To stimulate broader interest in the reported beneficial properties, this overview surveys and consolidates the widely scattered literature on the chemistry (isolation and structural characterization) of polysaccharides and secondary metabolites such as erinacines, hericerins, hericenones, resorcinols, steroids, mono- and diterpenes, and volatile aroma compounds, nutritional composition, food and industrial uses, and exceptional nutritional and health-promoting aspects of H. erinaceus. The reported health-promoting properties of the mushroom fruit bodies, mycelia, and bioactive pure compounds include antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antifatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, antisenescence, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties and improvement of anxiety, cognitive function, and depression. The described anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunostimulating properties in cells, animals, and humans seem to be responsible for the multiple health-promoting properties. A wide range of research advances and techniques are described and evaluated. The collated information and suggestion for further research might facilitate and guide further studies to optimize the use of the whole mushrooms and about 70 characterized actual and potential bioactive secondary metabolites to help prevent or treat human chronic, cognitive, and neurological diseases.

Fungi are interestingly; produce the bioactive natural products thus being screened for the production of valuable antibacterial product. In the present study the fungus was isolated from soil and identified as Myrothecium spp. MRP001 based on morphological characteristics and it was reinforced by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The submerged culture conditions and nutritional requirements for the production of mycelial biomass with improved antibacterial activity were studied in shaker flask culture using OFAT (one factor at time) in six different media, After 120 h of growth, Tryptone Soya Broth (TSB) and Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) shows maximum spore account (2×108 CFU/ml) of Myrothecium spp MRP001. Among the all different culture media, the maximum biomass production of 2.14 g/L and 2.23 g/L were observed in Tryptone Soya Broth (TSB) and Potato dextrose broth (PDB) respectively, over a period of 120 h of incubation at pH of 6.5 in 25-30 °C in Myrothecium spp. Strain MRP001. Among the carbon sources, glucose supplemented basal medium showed an effective biomass production of 2.24 g/L. whereas in nitrogen sources, yeast extract had significant biomass production of 2.12 g/L. The optimized ethyl acetate extract of cultural filtrate showed a maximum inhibition zone of 28.4 mm and 26.3 mm against multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa strain 1 and S. aureus strain 5, respectively. These results are useful for further investigation of the fungus in the future for microbial disease treatment for multi drug resistant human pathogens.

Cordyceps militaris is widely used in Asia as a functional food with high nutritional value and a wide range of therapeutic effects. Many studies have reported its various activities against an array of disorders, including hypersensitivity diseases, but there is no report that has focused on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). In the present study, Cordyceps militaris grown on germinated soybean (GSC) extract was evaluated whether it alleviated ACD symptoms. GSC suppressed DNFB-induced allergic ACD with ear swelling and ear erythema in C57BL/6 mice. Infiltration of CD4+, CD8+ T cells, and mast cells was decreased in the skin lesion after GSC oral administration, compared to DNFB-treated group. GSC also suppressed con-A induced proliferation of T-cells. HPLC analysis results suggest that the anti-ACD activity of GSC might be related to its major biochemical markers, including cordycepin. Thus, this study suggests that GSC is a promising source of agent that alleviates ACD-like symptoms.

Two new [named xylapyrrosides A (1) and B (2)] along with two known [pollenopyrrosides A (3) and B (=acortatarin A, 4)] naturally occurring spirocyclic pyrrole alkaloids were isolated and identified as minor components from the EtOH extract of the dried mycelia of the edible medicinal fungus Xylaria nigripes. Their structures were established by a combination of interpretation of spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The isolates possess a unique tricyclic skeleton comprising a common bicyclic 2-formyl-pyrrole-fused morpholine, with a variable ketohexoside ring. This class of alkaloids is quite rare from natural sources. In this study, the total syntheses of compounds 1, 2 and 4 were successfully achieved by two alternative strategies, and three new analogs [named xylapyrrosides A1 (1a), A2 (1b) and B1 (2a)] were also produced. Notably, the total synthesis of such spiroketal alkaloids with a pyranose ring (e.g.,1) was accomplished for the first time. The absolute configurations of the new isolates can be thereafter unequivocally secured by the total syntheses. The above isolated and synthesized spiro-alkaloids were found to show moderate antioxidant effects by preventing the oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity of A7r5 rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Ethnopharmacological relevance Several members of the genus Lignosus , which are collectively known as cendawan susu rimau (in Malay) or tiger׳s milk mushrooms (TMM), are regarded as important local medicine particularly by the indigenous communities in Malaysia. The mushroom sclerotia are purportedly effective in treating cancer, coughs, asthma, fever, and other ailments. The most commonly encountered Lignosus spp. in Malaysia was authenticated as Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden (synonym: Polyporus rhinocerus ), which is also known as hurulingzhi in China and has been used by Chinese physicians to treat liver cancer, gastric ulcers, and chronic hepatitis. In spite of growing interest in the therapeutic potential of TMM, there is no compilation of scientific evidence that supports the ethnomedicinal uses of these mushrooms. Therefore, the present review is intended (i) to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological activities, and cultivation of TMM in general and L. rhinocerotis in particular, (ii) to demonstrate how recent scientific findings have validated some of their traditional uses, and (iii) to identify opportunities for future research and areas to prioritize for TMM bioprospecting. Materials and methods A detailed literature search was conducted via library search (books, theses, reports, newspapers, magazines, and conference proceedings) and electronic search (Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar) for articles published in peer-reviewed journals. These sources were scrutinized for information on TMM and specifically for L. rhinocerotis . Results Ethnomycological knowledge about TMM, with an emphasis on cultural associations and use as local medicine, has been comprehensively and systematically compiled for the first time. Some of the reported medicinal properties of TMM have been validated by scientific studies. The anti-tumor, immuno-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, neurite outgrowth stimulation, and other pharmacological activities of L. rhinocerotis sclerotial extracts have been explored. The nature of sclerotial bioactive components, such as proteins, polysaccharides, and/or polysaccharide–protein complexes, has been identified, whereas the low-molecular-weight constituents remain poorly studied. The artificial cultivation of L. rhinocerotis via solid substrate and liquid fermentations successfully yielded fruiting bodies, sclerotium, mycelium, and culture broth that could be exploited as substitutes for the wild resources. The cultivated sclerotium and mycelium were shown to be safe from a toxicological point of view. Other research areas, e.g. , chemical studies, genomics, and proteomics, have been employed to gain insights into the medicinal properties of TMM. Conclusions This review clarified the medicinal properties of TMM as recorded in various ethnomycological records, and it simultaneously highlighted the current efforts to provide scientific evidence by using various in vitro and in vivo models. Thus far, only the anti-tumor and immuno-modulatory effects of L. rhinocerotis sclerotial aqueous extracts have been extensively investigated, and other medicinal properties relevant to their traditional uses, e.g. , anti-tussive and anti-pyretic properties, have yet to be validated. Further studies focusing on (i) the isolation and characterization of active components, (ii) the elucidation of their modes of action, and (iii) an evaluation of their safety and efficacy, when compared with the crude aqueous preparations, are warranted to accelerate potential drug discovery from TMM.

Background The medications produced from natural products are widely used as prophylactics for sickness induced by alcohol consumption. One such prophylactic is produced from the Reishi mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum. Because of the antioxidant properties of these preparations, we expect neuroprotective prophylactic effects of Reishi-based medications in alcohol-treated animals. Methods The Reishi (R) suspension was produced as water extract from Altaian mushrooms. Sprague-Dawley male rats were separated into the following 3 experimental groups: Group A + R received R (6 days per week) starting 1 week before alcohol exposure, and during the next 3 weeks, they received both R and alcohol; group A received alcohol; and group C received water. At the end of experiment, we determined the metabolic profile using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1) H MRS) of the brain cortex and phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the liver. Additionally, the blood cells were collected, and the serum biochemistry and liver histology were performed after euthanasia. Results Partial least squares discriminant analysis processing of the brain (1) H MRS gave 2 axes, the Y1 axis positively correlated with the level of taurine and negatively correlated with the level of lactate, and the Y2 axis positively correlated with the content of GABA and glycine and negatively correlated with the sum of the excitatory neurotransmitters, glutamate and glutamine. The Y1 values reflecting the brain energetics for the A + R group exceeded the corresponding values for groups C and A. The maximal level of Y2 reflecting the prevalence of inhibitory metabolites in the brain was observed in the rats exposed to alcohol. Moderate alcohol consumption did not cause significant pathological changes in the livers of the experimental animals. However, 20 days of alcohol consumption significantly increased the number of binuclear hepatocytes compared to the control. This effect was mitigated in the rats that received the Reishi extract. Conclusions Regular administration of the Reishi suspension improved the energy supply to the brain cortex and decreased the prevalence of inhibitory neurotransmitters that are characteristic of alcohol consumption. The alcohol-induced increase in liver proliferation was significantly suppressed by regular administration of the G. lucidum water suspension.

Chemical investigation on the cultures of Phellinus tuberculosus and Laetiporus sulphureus lead to the isolation of two new illudin-type sesquiterpenoids (phellinuin J and sulphureuine A). Their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic data. These compounds were purposely evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A549, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines.

Two new 3,4-seco-lanostane-type triterpenes, named as 15α-hydroxy-3,4-seco-lanosta-4(28),8,24-triene-3,21-dioic acid (1), 5α-hydroxy-3,4-seco-lanosta-4(28),8,24-triene-3,21-dioic acid 3-methyl ester (2), and one new lanostane triterpene 15α-acetoxylhydroxytrametenolic acid (3) together with a known one versisponic acid D (4) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison with reported data. All four compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines; however, none exhibited inhibitory effects.

Mushrooms are basically fungi, which have a fleshy and spore-bearing fruiting body. Mushrooms have been consumed as a part of normal diet from thousand of year due to their nutritional value. Mushroom relatively higher in good quality protein, low in total fat, higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids enriched with large amount of carbohydrate, valuable amount of fibres, significant amount of water, soluble vitamins as well as minerals. Studies revealed that mushrooms as the right source of protein to fight protein malnutrition in the cereal-dependent developing countries like India. Mushroom have also anticancerous, hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive immonomodulatory, haemato protective properties including properties of lowering blood sugars and blood pressure, anti bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Keeping in view all the above facts, its consumption should be encouraged.

Natural melanin is of great potential value and application in the fields of pharmacology, cosmetics, and functional foods. In the present study, statistically designed experiments were conducted for the optimization of the media to enhance the production of melanin by submerged culture of Auricularia auricula. Glucose, tyrosine, peptone, and CaCO3 were found to have significant effects (P < 0.015) on melanin biosynthesis by a Plackett-Burman experimental design and subsequently optimized using response surface methodology. Optimal media were obtained at the following concentrations: glucose, 0.90 g/L; tyrosine, 6.68 g/L; peptone, 6.99 g/L; and CaCO3, 6.75 g/L. The validity of the optimum media was verified in separate experiments in which the melanin yield of 1008.08 mg/L was obtained under optimum conditions, compared with 306.52 mg/L at other conditions, i.e., a 3.29-fold increase. Furthermore, the important physical and chemical properties of A. auricula melanin were determined. The findings from the present study indicate that large-scale production of natural melanin by submerged culture of A. auricular could be a useful approach.

Medicinal fungi, taken whole or as various forms of extracts, have been used to alleviate, cure or prevent human ailments since pre-historic times. In particular, Asian cultures have incorporated a variety of mushrooms into their medical practices. Chemically pure, bioactive metabolites from fungi have been a mainstay of modern pharmacological research and in addition to antibiotics, include anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, enzyme inhibitors, antagonist and agonists of hormones, and a variety of psychotropic substances. However, to date not many studies have focused on the possible health benefits of odorant volatile organic compounds (i.e., gas phase compounds). An analysis of these compounds for their health related effects will expand the range of compounds available for the treatment of chronic and acute diseases. This review highlights phenolic acids and monoterpenes from Asian medicinal mushrooms (AMMs), which not only produce pleasant odors but also have antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Odorant bioactive volatile phase compounds from medicinal mushrooms remain an essentially untapped source for future medicines, and AMMs remain a promising resource for future pharmacological research.

A simple method is described for efficient isolation of compounds with anticancer activity. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Cordyceps militaris was used as an example, and the newly developed iCELLigence real-time cell-analyzer (RTCA) ensured that only bioactive components were isolated by off-line two-dimensional preparative HPLC. Preparative separation in the first-dimension was performed on a bare silica column; 14 fractions were obtained from 18 g crude sample in eight injections. A C18 preparative column was selected for separation in the second dimension. The bioactive compound was further purified by the drowning-out crystallization method, with tetrahydrofuran and n-hexane as drowning-out anti-solvent and drowning-out agent, respectively. Purity was assessed by analytical HPLC and the chemical structure was determined by use of MS, NMR, and X-ray single crystal diffraction spectroscopy. The anticancer compound was identified as (3R,9R,10S,13S,14S,17S)-17-((2S,5R,E)-5,6-dimethylhept-3-en-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[α]phenanthren-3-ol). These results indicate that the method used in this work enabled efficient isolation of a highly pure anticancer compound from an ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Cordyceps militaris. This method also has much potential for purification of other weakly polar compounds and could enable purification of other traditional Chinese medicines.

In this study, using standard methods, mycelial nutrients, bioactive compounds, and antioxidants were analyzed for the first time for five fungal species: Isaria sinclairii (Berk.) Lloyd, I. tenuipes Peck, I. japonica Yasuda, I. farinosa (Holmsk) Fr. and Cordyceps tuberculata (Lebert) Maire. All of these species were low in fat content and rich in protein, fiber, ash, and carbohydrates. Mineral elements (Fe, Mg, Cu, Mn, and Ca) were detected in appreciable amounts. All three types of fatty acids (saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated) as well as bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, lycopene, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides) were detected for each species. The investigated species showed high ferric-reducing antioxidant power as well as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Although differences were observed in the values of each species, each species showed richness in one or more components.

As a rich source of novel polysaccharides, Cordyceps sinensis (CS), one of the valued traditional Chinese medicinal fungi, is a major focus of many natural products research efforts. More than 33 polysaccharides have been characterized till the date. Polysaccharides from CS possess a wide spectrum of biological activities like antitumor, antioxidant, immunomodulatory activity, kidney and lung protection, etc. This review covers the recent literature and updates the information on polysaccharides from CS, covering about 130 research articles emphasizing the isolation, characterization of polysaccharides and their biological functions.

Phellinus baumii was used for fermentation, and 3 corresponding ethanol extracts were obtained by 3 different methods: extract I, liquid fermentation; extract II, solid fermentation in polypropylene plastic bags with medium mainly consisting of sawdust and wheat bran; and extract III, solid fermentation in culture bottles with medium mainly consisting of rice. Ethanol extract I presented the best inhibition ability on HepG2 cell growth; inhibiting rates were 48.2% and 65.0% at doses of 10 and 100 µg/mL, respectively. Ethanol extracts II and III had a better regeneration effect on injured PC12 neural cells than extract I. The superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide radical, and DPPH radical scavenging activities of ethanol extract III was better than those of the other 2 extracts.

Pleurotus eryngii (P. eryngii), also known as the king oyster mushroom, contains many bioactive substances, including polysaccharides, lipids, peptides, sterols and triterpenoids. The aim of this study was to explore the antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of P. eryngii extract. The fresh P. eryngii material was extracted with MeOH (methanol) and then partitioned with EtOAc (ethyl acetate). The study showed that the P. eryngii EtOAc extract (EAe) not only has antitumor effects by in vitro and in vivo methods but also significantly increases some immune activities. In addition, histopathological observations showed that EAe-treated mice exhibited much lower cancerization throughout the liver and lung. EAe can also promote antioxidant activity, which may regulate the body's antioxidant capacity and activate the antitumor mechanism. Practical Applications Our study revealed the anticancer and immunomodulatory activity of Pleurotus eryngii extract, and identified the key components of the P. eryngii extract with HPLC-MS. These findings explain the antitumor activity of P. eryngii, which is very useful for developing the potential antitumor drugs for clinical application.

Regions with a tropical climate are frequently affected by endemic diseases caused by pathogenic parasites. More than one billion people worldwide are exposed directly to tropical parasites. The literature cites several antiparasitic metabolites obtained from medicinal plants or via synthetic pathways. However, fungi produce a diversity of metabolites that play important biological roles in human well-being. Thus, they are considered a potential source of novel natural agents for exploitation in the pharmaceutical industry. In this brief review article, we will provide an overview of the current situation regarding antiparasitic molecules derived from filamentous fungi, in particular, those which are effective against protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania, vectors of some neglected tropical diseases. Diseases and parasitic agents are described and classified, and the antiparasitic properties of natural compounds produced by the fungi of the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota are reviewed herein, in order to explore a topic only sparsely addressed in the scientific literature.

Mycoendophytes are microorganisms that reside internal tissues of living plants without causing any immediate overt negative effects have been found in every plant species examined to date and recognized as the potential sources of novel natural products for exploitation in medicine and agriculture with more bioactive natural products isolated from the microorganisms In the past two decades many valuable bioactive compounds with antimicrobial insecticidal cytotoxic and anticancer activities have been successfully discovered from mycoendophytes In the present investigation endophytic fungi were screened form from stem twig and leaves of Bixa orellanaL collected form Sathyamangalam reserve forest Predominant endophytic fungi isolated from the medicinal plantare Phyllosticta sp Pestalotiopsis sp and Phomopsis sp Statistical analysis of Shannon Diversity Index Jaccard Similarity Coefficient and Endophytic Infection Rate were performed to understand the nature of mycophytes in the selected medicinal plant This is the first report on endophytic fungi documented from this medicinal plant from Sathyamangalam forest of Tamil nadu India

Medicinal plants are known for their bioactive compound which is responsible for various beneficial characters in this case anti microbial character In this paper the anti microbial character of shade dried and powdered T cordifolialeaves were tested and observed against a test microorganism Escherichia coli Three different solvent extracts i e ethanolic methanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaf were taken and then tested for their degree of anti microbial nature against E coli using slip disc method The degree of the character of the plant extract was inferred by the comparative studies of the zone of inhibition in mm diameter The results observed from the experiment prove to us that the natural medicinal character of the climber is an economical alternative form of medicine compared to the currently used ones with fewer side effects to the consumers and easy availability

Following the importance of antler-type fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum, in this study, the impact of main growth parameters such as ventilation and light on the development of antler-type fruiting bodies has been investigated together with the determination of physico-chemical properties of antler fruiting bodies. For this, the primordia bags of G. lucidum were kept under controlled ventilation to adjust the CO2 produced by the mushrooms owing to its respiration under light and dark conditions. The bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, water-soluble polysaccharides and ganoderic acid showed a two-fold increase in the antler-type fruiting bodies as compared to normal kidney-shaped fruiting bodies. It is assumed from this study that the antler type fruiting bodies are developed due to restricted ventilation which causes an increase in the level of CO2 gas in the air as a result of respiration of mushroom. The shape and colour of antler fruiting bodies again dependent on the light provided in the growth chamber. This study also proves that with the manipulation of light and ventilation antler-type fruiting bodies of G. lucidum could be developed with higher quantity of bioactive compounds and with higher antioxidant potential.

Previous study revealed that Se-GP11 could exhibited its antitumor activity by improving the immune functions. 5-Fu, as a chemotherapeutic drugs, can kill many immune cells in addition to tumor cells. Accordingly, the enhanced antitumor and reduced toxicity of Se-GP11 on 5-Fu were estimated in this study. The results demonstrated that Se-GP11 could evidently increase the antitumor activity of 5-Fu. Furthermore, Se-GP11 could enhance the immune functions during the tumor inhibition process of 5-Fu for increasing the cytokines secretion (IL-2 and TNF-α) and immune organs weights. In addition, Se-GP11 could reduce the toxicity of 5-Fu on liver by improving the hematological and biochemical parameters and up-regulating the SOD activities and down-regulating the MDA levels. Taken together, the results indicated that Se-GP11 may develop as an auxiliary preparation to chemical antitumor drugs.

We investigated the potential use of coconut water to supplement potato dextrose broth (PDB) in the production of Ophiocordyceps sinensis CS1197 by submerged cultivation. The basal PDB medium was modified by supplementation with tender coconut water (TCW) and mature coconut water (MCW) at 10% and 5% (v/v), respectively; these mixtures were cultured at 28°C for 14 days, with a pH of 7 and an inoculum volume of 10%. The addition of optimized levels of TCW and MCW improved the biomass yield by 2.2- and 2.5-fold, respectively, and adenosine, cordycepin, and polysaccharide content by 58% and 69%, 50% and 55%, and 19% and 27%, respectively. Antioxidant and cholesterol esterase (CE) inhibitory activities of the aqueous extract from O. sinensis CS1197 mycelia supplemented with TCW and MCW were high compared with those of the control, indicating that coconut water has a positive correlation with the enhanced antioxidant and CE inhibitory activities. These antioxidant and CE inhibitory responses were dependent on concentration, and the larger amounts of bioactives in O. sinensis CS1197 are beneficial in pharmaceutical formulations.

Endophytic fungi are eukaryotic organisms that live inside plant tissues with symbiotic association and they have been recognized as a valuable source of novel bioactive metabolites antibiotics anti cancerous compounds antioxidants enzymes vitamins texturizing agents and pigments In the present investigation endophytic fungi were isolated from Mukia maderespatana L M Roem from Western Ghats of Sathyamangalam region for the first time The collected samples were taken to the laboratory under aseptic condition they were sliced of in to Leaf Stem and Root segments surface sterilized and inoculated in PDA plates for isolation of endophytes Biodiversity of endophytic fungi in various segments of the plant were determined by statistical analysis which includes colonization frequency Relative density of colonization EIR Shannon Index Gleason Index

Wild edible mushrooms are considered as a cheap food source, but rich in bioactive compounds, especially in phenolic compounds. The purpose of the study was to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and the content of polyphenolcarboxylic acids in 10 species of mushrooms commonly used (consumed) in Romania and two controls. The effect against free radicals, lipid peroxidation and reducing power were determined. The antimicrobial effect was revealed on some strains with pathogenic effect by disk diffusion assay. The antioxidant capacity expressed in vitro was correlated both with the presence of the main polyphenolcarboxylic acids, and also with the presence of other bioactive molecules (flavonoids, carotenoid compounds, etc.).

Background Genome mining facilitated by heterologous systems is an emerging approach to access the chemical diversity encoded in basidiomycete genomes. In this study, three sesquiterpene synthase genes, GME3634, GME3638, and GME9210, which were highly expressed in the sclerotium of the medicinal mushroom Lignosus rhinocerotis, were cloned and heterologously expressed in a yeast system. Results Metabolite profile analysis of the yeast culture extracts by GC–MS showed the production of several sesquiterpene alcohols (C15H26O), including cadinols and germacrene D-4-ol as major products. Other detected sesquiterpenes include selina-6-en-4-ol, β-elemene, β-cubebene, and cedrene. Two purified major compounds namely (+)-torreyol and α-cadinol synthesised by GME3638 and GME3634 respectively, are stereoisomers and their chemical structures were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that GME3638 and GME3634 are a pair of orthologues, and are grouped together with terpene synthases that synthesise cadinenes and related sesquiterpenes. (+)-Torreyol and α-cadinol were tested against a panel of human cancer cell lines and the latter was found to exhibit selective potent cytotoxicity in breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7) with IC50 value of 3.5 ± 0.58 μg/ml while α-cadinol is less active (IC50 = 18.0 ± 3.27 μg/ml). Conclusions This demonstrates that yeast-based genome mining, guided by transcriptomics, is a promising approach for uncovering bioactive compounds from medicinal mushrooms. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-017-0713-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The aim of this study was to characterize 3 wild culinary-medicinal mushrooms using molecular tools and to analyze their antioxidant activity. Antioxidant properties were studied by evaluating free radical scavenging, reducing power, and chelating effect. The mushrooms were identified as Lentinus squarrosulus, L. tuber-regium, and Macrocybe gigantean by amplifying internal transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA. The results demonstrated that the methanolic extract of M. gigantean has the highest free radical scavenging effect and chelating effect, whereas the methanolic extract of L. squarrosulus has the highest reducing power. The highest total phenol content and the most ascorbic acid were found in the M. gigantean extracts. Among the 3 mushroom extracts, M. gigantean displayed the most potent antioxidant activity. Molecular characterization using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region as a universal DNA marker was an effective tool in the identification and phylogenetic analysis of the studied mushrooms. The study also indicated that these wild macrofungi are rich sources of natural antioxidants.

We demonstrate herein that salicylic acid (SA) can enhance ganoderic acid (GA) accumulation in the lingzhi or reishi medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Following treatment with different concentrations of SA, the GA content was increased 22.72% to 43.04% compared with the control group. When the fungi were treated with 200 μmol/L SA at different times, the GA content was improved 10.21% to 35.24% compared with the control group. By choosing the optimum point based on response surface methodology, the GA content could be increased up to 229.03 μg/100 mg, which was improved 66.38% compared with the control group. When the fungi were treated with 200 μmol/L SA, the transcription levels of key genes in the GA biosynthesis pathway-squalene (SQ) synthase (sqs), lanosterol (Lano; osc), and hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (hmgr)-were improved 119.6-, 3.2-, and 4.2-fold, respectively. In addition, following treatment with 100 μmol/L SA, the levels of Lano and SQ, which are intermediate metabolites of GA biosynthesis, were increased 2.8- and 1.4-fold, respectively. These results indicate that SA can regulate the expression of genes related to GA biosynthesis and increases the metabolic levels of Lano and SQ, thereby resulting in the accumulation of GA.

Polysaccharides from Cordyceps militaris show multiple biological activities, such as antioxidation, antitumor, antivirus and immunomodulating properties, etc. The nutritional requirements for antioxidant polysaccharide bio-synthesis by submerged culture of C. militaris were evaluated on the basis of assay for DPPH radical scavenging ability and reducing power in this work. The results showed the best antioxidant activity of polysaccharide could be achieved when the media consisted of mannose, peptone, MgSO4, Na2HPO4, and KH2PO4. Furthermore, the main fraction of antioxidant polysaccharide, CMP-2, was preliminary isolated from the fermentation broth of C. militaris by ethanol precipitation, filtration, and DEAE cellulose-52 chromatography. CMP-2 was composed of mannose, rhamnose, glucose and galactose in a ratio of 2527:164:172:100, and had an average molecular weight (Mw) of approximately 8175 Da. The results suggested antioxidant polysaccharide could be produced by submerged culture of C. militaris and the medium composition significantly affected its DPPH radical scavenging ability and reducing power.

Natural products and their derivatives have played a prominent role in the history of drug discovery and remain the most attractive source of potential drugs because of their structural complexity and diversity. Edible and medicinal fungi have been shown to have profound health-promoting benefits and were recognized as an important source of natural products with diverse structures and distinct pharmacological potential. There are about 10,000 fungi species and 473 medicinal fungi species in China. The fruiting bodies of these mushrooms were used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various diseases. Recently, chemical investigation of edible and medicinal fungi collected in China led to isolation and identification of a huge number of bioactive compounds with various bioactivities including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiplasmodial, antiproliferative, antifibrotic, and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities. In this chapter, we review the studies on isolation, structural elucidation and biologically activities of bioactive compounds derived from edible and medicinal fungi conducted by Chinese scientists after 2007. Selected compounds with unique structural features and promising bioactivities have been described herein on the basis of structural types. The main types included are terpenes, meroterpenoids, polyketides, and alkaloids. A table that lists the name of fungi species, bioactive compounds, and medicinal properties is given along with 109 references.