In vitro inhibition of platelet aggregation with low dalton compounds from aqueous dialysates of edible fungi.

Low dalton compounds from aqueous dialysates of several edible fungi have demonstrated inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro. The species of fungi included Auricularia polytricha (black tree fungus), Cortinellus shiitake (shiitake mushroom), Agaricus biporus, and Auriculariaceae sp. (white tree fungus). The most active inhibitors as determined by 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) were demonstrated in the dialysates of the black tree fungus (10 mg/ml) and shiitake mushroom (80 ug/ml). Agaricus biporus and the white tree fungus dialysates gave IC50 of 3300 and 2750 mg/ml, respectively. Preliminary examinations suggest that, in part, the inhibitory factor(s) may be nucleosides or nucleotides and other as yet unidentified low dalton compounds. Further studies of the chemical nature of these inhibitory compounds are suggested since these fungi are consumed in quantities in some countries.

Prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2) formation in lung tissues of infants in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), non-SIDS and adults.

SIDS lung tissues elaborated significantly (p less than 0.01) lower PGI2 as compared with non-SIDS and adults. Significant differences (p less than 0.01) between SIDS and non-SIDS were especially shown at 2-4 months of age, 16.46 +/- 6.86 vs. 28.39 +/- 8.86 ng PGI2/50 mg of lung tissue, respectively, for SIDS and non-SIDS. A highly significant difference (p less than 0.001) was shown for SIDS (16.46 +/- 6.86 ng PGI2/50 mg lung tissue) when compared to adults (33.50 +/- 5.60 ng PGI2/50 mg lung tissue). It is suggested that there is defective maturation in the development of prostacyclin synthetase in lung tissues of SIDS infants.

A potent naturally occurring low-molecular weight blastogenic inhibitory factor from edible black tree fungus.

Crude dialyzable extracts of Auricularia polytricha (black tree fungus) when added to lymphoprep-isolated blood mononuclear cells (PBL) stimulated with mitogens (PHA and PWM) showed significant inhibition of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation in vitro. Similar extracts of Agaricus biporus and Cortinellus shiitake demonstrated essentially no suppression of 3H-TdR uptake by PBL cells stimulated with PHA or PWM. A 50 micrograms/well (200 microliter) concentration of A. polytricha reduced 3H-TdR uptake of PHA stimulated PBL cells from different donors by 65.4 to 99.8% and similarly reduced 3H-TdR uptake of PWM stimulated PBL cells by 89.6 to 99.9%. Viability examination of PBL cells in RPMI medium with A. polytricha extract alone, mitogens alone, and mixtures of mitogens and extract for 72 hr at 37 degrees C showed per cent survivals as follows: medium alone, 93%; PWM, 91%; PHA, 77%; BTF extract (200 micrograms/ml), 57%; PWM + BTF extract, 47%, and PHA + BTF extract, 39%. Data presented show that Auricularia polytricha contained a low dalton potent blastogenic inhibitory factor(s).