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The objective of this study was to develop a single quality index of chemical characteristics of Pleurotus ostreatus extracts on 7th and 14th day of its shelf life, derived from the mushroom fruiting bodies. P. ostreatus was cultivated on four substrates containing different ratio of wine industry waste-grape pomace (P) and wheat straw (S): 100P, 80P20S, 50P50S, 20P80S. Four quality parameters of P. ostreatus mushroom extracts, i.e. antioxidative parameters: ABTS+ and DPPH• free radical scavenging capability, total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total polysaccharides (TPS) were used to define the final extract quality index. Analysis indicated 100P and 80P20S as the samples cultivated on the substrate with higher percent of grape pomace, as the best quality at the 7th day of its shelf life. On the other hand, final quality score indicated 50P50S and 20P80S, cultivated on a substrate with a lower percent of grape pomace, as the best quality samples at the 14th day of its shelf life. According to the results, samples cultivated on a higher pomace content substrate are of better quality in a shorter storage time period.

This study aimed to improve the conventional procedure of alginate isolation from the brown seaweed (Laminaria digitata L.) biomass and investigate the possibility of further valorization of the ethanolic fraction representing the byproduct after the degreasing and depigmentation of biomass. The acid treatment of biomass supported by ultrasound was modeled and optimized regarding the alginate yield using a response surface methodology based on the Box–Behnken design. A treatment time of 30 min, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 30 mL/g, and a treatment temperature of 47 °C were proposed as optimal conditions under which the alginate yield related to the mass of dry biomass was 30.9%. The use of ultrasonic radiation significantly reduced the time required for the acid treatment of biomass by about 4 to 24 times compared to other available conventional procedures. The isolated alginate had an M/G ratio of 1.08, which indicates a greater presence of M-blocks in its structure and the possibility of forming a soft and elastic hydrogel with its use. The chemical composition of the ethanolic fraction including total antioxidant content (293 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (14.9 mg rutin equivalent/g dry weight), contents of macroelements (the highest content of sodium, 106.59 mg/g dry weight), and microelement content (the highest content of boron, 198.84 mg/g dry weight) was determined, and the identification of bioactive compounds was carried out. The results of ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of 48 compounds, of which 41 compounds were identified as sugar alcohol, phenolic compounds, and lipids. According to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, the radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic fraction (the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 42.84 ± 0.81 μg/mL) indicated its strong activity, which was almost the same as in the case of the positive control, synthetic antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 36.61 ± 0.79 μg/mL). Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus cereus) were more sensitive to the ethanolic fraction compared to Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Shigella sonnei). The obtained results indicated the possibility of the further use of the ethanolic fraction as a fertilizer for plant growth in different species and antifouling agents, applicable in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is among the main culprits for the progression of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. It is well known that dark chocolate possesses polyphenols as major constituents which dietary consumption has been associated to health beneficial effects. Consequently, this study aimed to analyze dark chocolate (DC) and dark chocolate enriched with medicinal mushroom Coriolus versicolor (DCC) and hazelnuts (DCH) regarding antioxidant potential and total polyphenol (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), flavan-3-ol (FLA) and proanthocyanidin (PCA) content. DPPH•, CUPRAC and ABTS•+ assays were applied for measuring antioxidant capacity. The average of all antioxidant tests for each product was used for calculating the antioxidant potency composite index (ACI). The mean values of all antioxidant assays indicated that all chocolate products contained potent antioxidants. The addition of hazelnuts to dark chocolate significantly affected its total flavonoid content. Regression analysis among results obtained with antioxidant assays revealed that dark chocolate and dark chocolate products may act in mixed mode, by direct reduction via electron transfer or by radical quenching via H atom transfer. Flavan-3ols had the most significant impact on the ability of the analyzed samples to reduce metals, while proanthocyanidins primarily acted as radical scavengers. The obtained results provided additional information regarding the value-added dark chocolates enriched with bioactive compounds of medicinal mushroom and plant origin.

The health promoting effects of hot water extracts obtained from fruiting bodies of the commercially cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus (AbHW) and the wild-growing mushroom Ganoderma resinaceum (GrHW) originating from northern Serbia are presented in this research. These abilities were compared in vitro by the prevention of lipid peroxidation (LPx) in a linoleic acid model system, inhibition of the angiotension converting I enzyme (ACE) that could help in the maintenance of a normal blood pressure level and strengthening the ability of the central cholinergic neuron by inhibiting the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Cytotoxic activities were observed towards selected human malignant (HeLa and K562) cell lines and normal- -human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). GrHW contains higher phenolics (5.9 g (100 g)-1), inhibition of LPx (EC50 = 1.07 mg mL-1), ACE (IC50 = 0.54 mg mL-1) and AChE (IC50 = 0.37 mg mL-1), and exhibited a significant selectivity in the antitumour action against HeLa (IC50 = 0.14 mg mL-1) and K562 (IC50 = 0.11 mg mL-1) cells. AbHW contained higher total protein (6.4 g (100 g)-1), carbohydrate (75.4 g (100 g)-1) and β-glucan (55.1 g (100 g)-1) contents and induced significant proliferation of healthy PBMC from 152–116 % in the concentration range of 0.047–0.187 mg mL-1. The difference in the biological activity of the extracts provides guidance on their use as functional food. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 46001, Grant no. III 46010 and Grant no. III 43004]

The mushroom industry should implement green extraction technologies; however, there is not enough information on the differences between these techniques expressed as the chemical composition of the resulting extract. In this study, selected types of green extraction techniques (GETs) were used on Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) (Fr.) Pilát from Serbia (IS) and Mongolia (IM) to examine the differences that would enable the composition-based technology choices in the mushroom supplement industry. Subcritical water extraction (SWE), microwave-assisted (MW) extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (VAE) were used to prepare the extracts. SWE was performed at two different temperatures (120 and 200 °C), while 96% ethanol, 50% ethanol, and water were used for MW and VAE. The yield, the content of total phenols, total proteins, and carbohydrates, qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, including α- and β- and total glucans, and fatty acids, were determined in the obtained extracts. SWE resulted in a significantly higher yield, total polysaccharide, and glucan content than any other technique. Glucose was the most dominant monosaccharide in the SWE samples, especially those extracted at 200 °C. The MW 50% EtOH extracts showed the highest yield of total phenols. Among the tested phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid was the most dominant. SWE can be recommended as the most efficient method for extracting commercially important compounds, especially glucans and phenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a parasitic fungus, which has been used in traditional medicine in Russia and other northern European countries in the treatment of cancer, gastrointestinal andliver diseases. It has been a subject of intensive researchrecently, confirming many of its health-beneficial effects. In order to obtain a product that would allow modified and prolonged release of the Chaga’s active metabolites, hot water Chaga extract was immobilized using calcium - alginate. The extract, which was predominantly composed of carbohydrates (57 %), also contained a relatively high amount of antioxidants/phenolic compounds (130 mg gallic acid equivalents per g of dry extract) and exhibited pronounced radical scavenging activity. It showed significant antibacterial activity as well, inhibiting growth of tested bacterial strains at concentrations of 1.25-20 mg/mL. Entrapment efficiency was about 80 %, and the extract-alginate system showed pH-dependant extract release; there was negligible release at pH 1.75 (gastric pH), and the release gradually increased with the increase in pH, reaching ~43 % of immobilized extract at pH 8.5 after 90 min. Such a product could be used as a dietary supplement, adjuvant in therapy of gastrointestinal diseases or as a food additive. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III46010]

The levels of Ni, Cu and Mg in Grifola frondosa (also known as Maitake mushroom) fruit body produced on zeolite Minazel Plus (MG)-supplemented substrate were measured with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Two different concentrations of MG were added to the substrate for mushroom cultivation. Levels of selected metals were measured in cultivated dry carpophores. The content of Ni increased in fruit bodies produced on supplemented substrate, while in case of Cu, a pronounced decrease was observed. When two different concentrations of MG were implemented, the Mg level showed both positive and negative trend, depending on the applied concentration of zeolite. MG in a concentration of 1% showed the strongest influence on the observed elements in the cultivated fruiting body of Maitake mushroom. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 46010]

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can result in DNA damage, mainly through direct formation of pyrimidine dimers and generation of reactive oxygen species, which can lead to the skin disorders including cancer. In accordance with this, the use of natural antigenotoxins and/or antioxidants could contribute to human health protection. Considering that plants are rich in both, the aim of this study was to investigate UV-protective and antioxidative properties of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea), being well established in pharmacopeias and traditional medicine. Tested extracts were derived from root and shoot of the in vitro cultivated plants. Prescreening of the genotoxic properties of UVC, UVA, and the extracts, as well as the extracts' antigenotoxicity were estimated by applying alkaline comet assay on normal fetal lung fibroblast (MRC-5) and human melanoma cells (Hs 294T). Antioxidant potential was tested in ferrous ions chelating ferric reducing antioxidant power and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays. Genotoxicity testing, which revealed moderate DNA-damaging potential of root extract on MRC-5 cells and high genotoxicity of shoot extract on both cell lines, pointed out nongenotoxic concentrations that could be used in antigenotoxicity assay. Doses of 63 and 3 J/cm2 for UVC and UVA, respectively, were established for antigenotoxicity study, since they induced sufficient DNA damage without notable cytotoxicity. Results of antigenotoxicity revealed strong protective effect of both extracts against UVC (the highest inhibitions 58% and 47%) and UVA (the highest inhibitions 69% and 60%), in Hs 294T and MRC-5 cells, respectively. Study of the antioxidative properties demonstrated stronger activity of shoot extract. Results obtained proved to be encouraging but further research of the UV-protective role of Gentiana lutea extracts and underlying molecular mechanisms is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total quality index approach was used to reflect the quality of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom, cultivated on grape pomace (P) as food waste substrate and wheat straw (S), in four different combined ratios: 100P; 80P20S; 50P50S; and 20P80S, with 100S, serving as control substrate. This approach involved two directions of mushroom analysis. The whole mushroom fruiting bodies analysis introduced a single total quality index (TQIM) based on 11 quality parameters. The mushroom water extracts analysis was presented by another single total quality index (TQIE), with seven quality parameters. This mathematical model revealed that the mushroom extracts have a better overall quality score with higher pomace content in substrate mixture, compared to the whole mushroom quality changes throughout the observed shelf life period. Future research may pay attention to the phytotoxicity of grape pomace as a food waste, as well as the influence of grape pomace on glucan content, as a health‐beneficial compounds. Practical applications: From the sustainable part of view, advantage of this type of production is its belonging to the sustainable food waste management strategy. The main importance of food waste use is their exploitation through bioconversion process into the new value‐added products, generating near zero waste. Also, the type and chemical composition of plant waste used as mushroom substrate affects the nutritional profile and quantity of the produced mushroom. Therefore, the application of this principle of production benefits winemakers on the one hand, eliminating the generation of toxic waste and protecting the environment. From a quality point of view, approach outlined in this research shows practical application of using quality index as a tool for overall quality evaluation. Finally, combining food waste for producing mushrooms evaluated through a quality index perspective paves the way for increasing mushroom in the mushroom values chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]