Hepatoprotective effects of mushrooms.

The particular characteristics of growth and development of mushrooms in nature result in the accumulation of a variety of secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, terpenes and steroids and essential cell wall components such as polysaccharides, b-glucans and proteins, several of them with biological activities. The present article outlines and discusses the available information about the protective effects of mushroom extracts against liver damage induced by exogenous compounds. Among mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum is indubitably the most widely studied species. In this review, however, emphasis was given to studies using other mushrooms, especially those presenting efforts of attributing hepatoprotective activities to specific chemical components usually present in the mushroom extracts.

Screening of filamentous fungi for the decolorization of a commercial reactive dye.

The aim of this work is to verify the ability of 19 isolates of 13 different fungal species to decolorize the reactive dye blue-BF-R. The isolates of Pleurotus pulmonarius, P. ostreatus, P. ëous, P. citrinopileatus, Lentinus edodes, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Schizophyllum commune, Agaricus blazei, Ganoderma sp. and four isolates obtained from textile effluent were evaluated in minimum liquid medium. In addition, seven of them were also evaluated on solid medium, and both media were both added 0.5 g dye/l. All isolates evaluated on solid medium decolorized the dye. The isolates Phanerochaete chrysosporium CCB478 and Lentinus edodes CCB047 were the ones that presented the fastest and slowest growth, respectively. Despite the isolate of the textile effluent had grown on solid medium, it did not decolorize the dye. All the isolates of the genus Pleurotus, except the isolate Pleurotus ëous CCB440, decolorized the dye in liquid medium. They presented decolorization percentage ranging from 39% to 51%. The absorbance ratio (Abs590/Abs455) of the culture medium inoculated with these isolates decreased throughout the experiment indicating the fungal dye degradation. The others presented decolorization percent below 8%. The isolates of Pleurotus, except the isolate Pleurotus ëous CCB440, were able to decolorize and to degrade the commercial reactive dye blue-BF-R. The results indicate their potential to be used in the treatment of effluents containing this dye.

Biomass and exopolysaccharide production in submerged cultures of Pleurotus ostreatoroseus Sing. and Pleurotus ostreatus "florida" (Jack.: Fr.) Kummer.

The species of the genus Pleurotus produce large amounts of biomass and exopolysaccharide (EPS) in submerged cultures, which may be used for biotechnological purposes. In the present work two Brazilian autochthonous strains of edible Pleurotus (P. ostratoroseus Sing. and P. ostreatus "florida") were used. The fungi grown in liquid Potato Dextrose medium (PD) were used as inocula to cultivate those microorganisms in the POL culture medium. After a 9-day incubation, the optimal growth time for biomass production, P. ostreatus "florida" presented higher biomass production (22.8 g d.w./l) than P. ostreatoroseus (16.8 g d.w./l). After a 7-day incubation, the optimal growth time for EPS production, P. ostreatoroseus produced higher amounts of crude EPS (5.8 g d.w./l) than P. ostreatus "florida" (1.4 g d.w./l). Relative carbohydrate composition for P. ostreatoroseus and P. ostreatus "florida" EPS were: glucose (95.5-87.7), galactose (traces - 4.9), mannose (traces - 3.1), xylose (1.3-2.5), and arabinose (3.2-1.8). Lower ammonium sulfate concentration in the POL culture medium increased the exopolysaccharides production by P. ostreatoroseus.

Alternative method of inoculum and spawn production for the cultivation of the edible brazilian mushroom Pleurotus ostreatoroseus SING.

Efficiency of solid and liquid inocula and their use for spawn production were compared so that improved cultivation conditions for the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatoroseus could be tested. Solid and liquid inocula were prepared respectively with Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Liquid Potato Dextrose (LPD). Wheat grains and cotton residues were used as substrates for spawn preparation. Inoculum types did not affect the development of P. ostreatoroseus, and LPD spawns were cheaper, more homogenous, less contaminated. Decomposition activity of mushroom growth, as a percentage of organic matter loss (OML), was higher in the wheat grain spawn and was not influenced by the inoculum type. Advantages in the use of cotton residue for spawn production were longer storage time, lower contamination and reduced costs. The cotton residue substrate may be also used for the production of mushroom fruiting bodies.