[Research progress on structures, activities, and biosynthesis of blazeispirol compounds from Agaricus blazei].

Agaricus blazei is a rare medicinal and edible fungus with a crispy taste and delicious flavor. Both fruiting body and mycelium are rich in polysaccharides, sterols, terpenoids, peptides, lipids, polyphenols, and other active ingredients, which have strong pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, lipid-lowering, glucose-lowering, immunomodulation, optimization of intestinal flora, and anti-oxidation. Therefore, it is a kind of fungal resource with a great prospect of edible and medicinal development. Among the reported chemical components of A. blazei, blazeispirol is a series of sterol compounds unique to A. blazei, which has a spiral structure and is different from classical steroids. It is an important active ingredient found in the mycelium of A. blazei and has significant hepatoprotective activity. It can be used as a phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic marker of A. blazei strains and is considered an excellent lead compound for drug development. According to the skeleton structure characteristics, the 17 discovered blazeispirol compounds can be divided into two types: blazeispirane and problazeispirane. In order to further explore the resource of blazeispirol compounds of A. blazei, the discovery, isolation, structure, biological activity, and biosynthetic pathways of blazeispirol compounds of A. blazei were systematically reviewed. Besides, the metabolic regulation strategies related to the fermentation synthesis of blazeispirol A by A. blazei were discussed. This review could provide a reference for the efficient synthesis and development of blazeispirol compounds, the research and development of related drugs and functional foods, and the quality improvement of A. blazei and other medicinal and edible fungi resources and derivatives.

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic removal of organic micropollutants with spent mushroom substrate of Agaricus bisporus.

Water bodies are increasingly contaminated with a diversity of organic micropollutants (OMPs). This impacts the quality of ecosystems due to their recalcitrant nature. In this study, we assessed the removal of OMPs by spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and by its aqueous tea extract. Removal of acesulfame K, antipyrine, bentazon, caffeine, carbamazepine, chloridazon, clofibric acid, and N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) by SMS and its tea was between 10 and 90% and 0-26%, respectively, in a 7-day period. Sorption to SMS particles was between 0 and 29%, which can thus not explain the removal difference between SMS and its tea, the latter lacking these particles. Carbamazepine was removed most efficiently by both SMS and its tea. Removal of OMPs (except caffeine) by SMS tea was not affected by heat treatment. By contrast, heat-treatment of SMS reduced OMP removal to < 10% except for carbamazepine with a removal of 90%. These results indicate that OMP removal by SMS and its tea is mediated by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities. The presence of copper, manganese, and iron (0.03, 0.88, and 0.33 µg L-1, respectively) as well as H2O2 (1.5 µM) in SMS tea indicated that the Fenton reaction represents (part of) the non-enzymatic activity. Indeed, the in vitro reconstituted Fenton reaction removed OMPs > 50% better than the teas. From these data it is concluded that spent mushroom substrate of the white button mushroom, which is widely available as a waste-stream, can be used to purify water from OMPs.

Comparative Analysis of Agronomic Traits, Yield, and Effective Components of Main Cultivated Ganoderma Mushrooms (Agaricomycetes) in China.

To assess the strain resources and address production challenges in Ganoderma cultivation. 150 Ganoderma strains were collected from 13 provinces in China. A comparative analysis of agronomic traits and effective components was conducted. Among the 150 strains, key agronomic traits measured were: average stipe diameter (15.92 mm), average stipe length (37.46 mm), average cap horizontal diameter (94.97 mm), average cap vertical diameter (64.21 mm), average cap thickness (15.22 mm), and average fruiting body weight (14.30 g). Based on these agronomic traits, four promising strains, namely, L08, L12, Z21, and Z39, were recommended for further cultivation and breeding. The average crude polysaccharide content ranged from 0.048% to 0.977%, and triterpenoids ranged from 0.804% to 2.010%. In addition, 73 triterpenoid compounds were identified, constituting 47.1% of the total compounds. Using a distance discrimination method, the types, and relative contents of triterpenoid compounds in 150 Ganoderma strains were classified, achieving 98% accuracy in G. lingzhi identification. The 16 triterpenoid components used for G. lingzhi identification included oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, 3ß-acetoxyergosta-7,22-dien-5α-ol, ganoderic acid DM, ganoderiol B, ganorderol A, ganoderic acid GS-1, tsugaric acid A, ganoderic acid GS-2, ganoderenic acid D, ganoderic acid Mf, ganoderic acid A, ganoderic acid K, ganoderic acid V, ganoderic acid G, and leucocontextin J. This study provides valuable insights for exploring and utilizing Ganoderma resources and for the development of new varieties.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powder: Investigation of performance, immune organs and humoural and cellular immune response in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Alternatives to antibiotics have been suggested by banning their use in the poultry industry. Garlic and mushroom are two important phytobiotic compounds in poultry nutrition. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing diets with garlic and mushroom powder (MP) on growth performance, humoural and cellular immunity, and white blood cell counts of broiler chickens. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-six 1-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were assigned to 8 treatments with 6 replications (12 birds per replication) based on a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of 4 × 2 with 4 levels of garlic powder (GP; 0.00%, 0.50%, 1.00%, and 1.50%) and two levels of MP (0.00% and 1.00%). RESULTS: No significant effects of GP and MP on the growth performance and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity were observed (p > 0.05). According to the regression equation, with increasing levels of GP in the diets, the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus increased (p < 0.05). The effect of increasing levels of GP on the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) titre was greater in the absence of MP (p < 0.05). With increasing levels of GP in the diets, the percentages of lymphocytes and heterophils to lymphocytes ratio increased and reduced, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This experiment has revealed that increasing the level of GP improved the immune response of broilers without affecting performance. The effect of increasing the level of GP on the NDV titre was more significant in the absence of MP.

Dietary supplementation with mushroom powder (Agaricus bisporus) on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and bone biomechanical properties of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

This study was performed to determine the effect of mushroom powder (MP) (Agaricus bisporus) supplementation on growing Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 300 unsexed 1-day-old Japanese quails with similar body weights (8.38 ± 0.2 g) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups with six replications. Additions of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00% of MP to the basal diet were used to develop the treatment groups. Quails were fed ad libitum for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, 12 quails from each experimental unit were euthanised to determine performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and bone biochemical properties. Results showed that all dietary MP did not negatively affect any performance parameters (P > 0.05), while by the third week of life, there was an increase (P < 0.05) in body weight and body weight gain in the quails of the 0.75% MP group compared to the control group. Nevertheless, these differences disappeared at the end of the trial (P > 0.05). No differences were observed (P > 0.05) for any of the studied carcass traits, except for the pancreas weight which decreased (P < 0.05) with the addition of high MP (1.00%). Regarding meat quality, all color parameters were affected on the fifth day of sampling (P < 0.05) but not on the first day (P > 0.05). It was detected that the breast of the quails in group 0.75% MP had the highest L* value and the lowest a* value. While the breast of the 1.00% MP group had the highest b value and the lowest pH value. Dietary MP enhanced oxidative stability, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) value in the breast compared to the control at both sampling points (P < 0.01), being more noted on the fifth day of sampling. Bone biomechanical properties (in terms of shear force or shear stress) were improved (P < 0.01) with the dietary addition of MP at 0.75% compared to the control. It can be suggested that MP is a secure ingredient in animal feed without negatively affecting performance parameters, carcass traits, or meat quality. Therefore, including an interval of 0.50-0.75% of MP in the diet of growing quails could be a suitable strategy to improve certain parameters such as the meat's oxidative stability and the bone's biomechanical parameters. Moreover, the efficacy of MP on performance development would be greater during the first weeks of the quails' life due to their intestinal conditions at this stage.

Metal Content in Caps and Stalks of Edible Mushrooms: Health Benefits and Risk Evaluation.

Mushrooms are a good source of protein and phenolic compounds which provides health benefits for humans. The purpose of this study was to compare the content of eight metals, protein, and total phenolics (TPC) of 5 different species (Agaricus bisporus-white and brown mushrooms, Agaricus cupreobrunneus, Auricularia cornea, Hypsizgus tesselatus, and Pleurotus eryngii species-complex) of edible mushrooms available on the Romanian market. Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus cupreobrunneus were purchased and cultivated in Romania and the other species were cultivated in other countries (Turkey and China). The metal content determined by graphite atomic absorption spectrometry (GTAAS) varied in the order Cu > Pb > Ni > Fe > Cr > Mn > Co > Cd. Almost all the samples contained a greater quantity of metals in the stalk than in the cap. In addition, the levels of toxic metals were low. The protein content of analyzed samples ranged from 0.0926 to 0.2743%, the highest value being observed in Pleurotus eryngii species-complex mushroom. TPC of extracts increased over time but there was a variability in the concentration for each mushroom species (0.25-12.25 mg GAE/g). The investigated mushroom species possess no health risk and may be potential nutritional supplements for human diets due to their phenolic compounds, protein, and mineral content.

GC/MS and 2D NMR-based approach to evaluate the chemical profile of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill and its anti-inflammatory effect on human neutrophils.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM) is one of the main mushrooms used for medicinal purposes. The use of AbM in the preparation of teas is widespread mainly in Asian countries, while in Brazil it is used as a functional food to combat inflammatory diseases and cancer. AIM OF THE STUDY: The main focus of this study was the characterization of the chemical profile of the hydroalcoholic extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (AbE), as well as the evaluation of its cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory potential using human neutrophils. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract was prepared by dynamic maceration using a mixture of ethanol and water (70/30, v v-1) as solvent. The chemical profile characterization was carried out by 2D NMR and GC-MS techniques. The cytotoxicity of AbE was evaluated through studies of hemolytic potential, cell viability and membrane integrity. The anti-inflammatory activity was analyzed by a PMA-induced neutrophil degranulation assay. RESULTS: Chemical analysis of AbE revealed the presence of 28 metabolites in its composition, with mannitol as the major compound. AbE at 1-200 µg mL-1 and mannitol at 4-160 µg mL-1, showed low hemolytic and cytotoxic potential against human red blood cells and neutrophils. Furthermore, both were able to significantly reduce the release of myeloperoxidase. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that AbE is a promising natural product to be incorporated into pharmaceutical dosage forms intended for the adjuvant treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with In Vitro-Cultivated Arboreal Medicinal Mushrooms on Long-Term Memory and Anxiety-Like Behavior of Male Mice.

Health-promoting effects of medicinal mushrooms have been postulated for centuries in folk medicine in Asia and Europe and are currently being verified by scientific research. Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus, HE) is an arboreal medicinal mushroom that has been shown to improve short-term memory of healthy mice, and to modulate stress-coping strategies of rodents. HE shares bioactive compounds with other arboreal medicinal mushrooms such as the pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor, PDJ) and agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis, FO), but their effects in vivo have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation with HE, FO, or PDJ on long-term memory, anxiety-like behavior, and hippocampal gene expression of healthy male mice. CD-1 mice were fed with either control or mushroom-supplemented (2 mg/g of dry chow) diets for 40 days and underwent object novelty recognition and elevated plus maze tests before hippocampi collection. Only HE-supplemented animals displayed long-term memory (one sample t-test against chance level of novelty preference ratio). Supplementation had no effect on anxiety-like behavior, but its effect on the frequency of arm visits of the elevated plus maze apparatus was modulated by the amount of ingested food - an effect that was absent in control animals. We also observed that mice with higher weight gain had lower expression of Gsk3ß and Mtor in their hippocampi. We discuss the relevance of these results for rodent behavioral studies of dietary mushroom supplementation.

Immunomodulatory activity of extracts from five edible basidiomycetes mushrooms in Wistar albino rats.

Mushrooms are nutritious foods that are widely cultivated all over the world. They are rich in a range of compounds linked to improving functions of the immune system including carotenoids, alkaloids, lectins, enzymes, folates, fats, organic acids, minerals, polysaccharides, phenolics, proteins, tocopherols, terpenoids, and volatile compounds. In this study we investigated, the immunomodulatory activity in rats of the aqueous extracts of five of the most common edible mushrooms belonging to Family Basidiomycota-white-rot fungi including, Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus columbinus, and Pleurotus sajor-caju. Male Wistar albino rats were assigned to thirteen groups and Immunosuppression was induced by oral administration of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), followed by oral administration of the mushroom extracts at low (200 mg/kg) and high (400 mg/kg) doses. A positive control group received the immune stimulant Echinacea extract Immulant® at (30 mg/kg), while the negative control group received only saline. From each animal, in each group, blood samples were collected after 15 days for complete blood counts and for measurement of immunologic parameters, including lysozyme activity, nitric oxide (NO) production and serum cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) levels. Results have shown that white blood cells (WBCs) and lymphocytic counts were significantly boosted by high doses of each of the five mushroom extracts (207-289% increase for WBC and 153-175% for lymphocytes) with a significant increase in lysozyme activity (110-136% increase), NO concentration (159-232% increase) and cytokines as compared to the negative control group. Histopathological examination of the rats' spleen and thymus tissues has shown marked lymphocytic proliferation that was more obvious at the higher doses. In conclusion, our results showed that the five edible mushroom extracts revealed significant immunostimulatory effects preclinically particularly, at the higher doses (400 mg/kg) which can be considered the effective dose.

Antidepressant Effect of Water Extract of Royal Sun Medicinal Mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis (Agaricomycetes), in Mice Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress.

Our study aimed to investigate whether Agaricus brasiliensis water extract (AWE) possesses antidepressant activity. Depression as a result of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was established in mice. The AWE group was administered 3.0 g/kg of AWE. The tail suspension test (TST) was conducted 1 h after the last administration. Then after fasting for 12 h, the mice were sacrificed by euthanasia and the brain and organs (liver, spleen, kidney, and thymus) were collected immediately. Biochemical indexes, including serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA), were analyzed with biochemical reagent kits. In addition, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity, inhibition of hydroxyl radical activity, and total antioxidant capacity were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of AWE. The organ index analysis indicated that AWE had no adverse effect on mice at feeding time. The results suggested that AWE administration could significantly shorten the immobility time of mice in the TST. Particularly, the levels of 5-HT and NE appeared to increase significantly (P < 0.05) after AWE administration. At the same time, in vitro antioxidant experiments also revealed that AWE displayed better antioxidant activity. Collectively, these results suggest that AWE possesses good antidepressant activity, and these effects may be mediated by enhancing monoamine neurotransmitter content in the brain or antioxidant capacity to improve depression.

Isolation and identification of yeasts from UTI patient's exhibit susceptibility to Agaricus gennadii extract.

Antifungal resistance represents a major clinical challenge to clinicians responsible for treating invasive fungal infections due to the limited arsenal of systemically available antifungal agents. Currently, fungal invasive infections are related to antifungal resistance by pathogenic fungi. The current study assumed to use of natural ingredients such as the fruiting bodies of large fungi, specifically Agaricus gennadii. This study is also a new initial step in the field of producing an antifungal that has a promising and safe future. However, most of the used antifungals such as polyenes, azoles, echinocandins, and flucytosine have side effects and may lead to damage to the human body. To achieve the goal of this study, 120 mid-stream urine samples were collected from urinary tract infection (UTI) patients, who attended Samarra General Hospital, the primary care sector and some medical clinics in the city of Samarra/Salah al-Din during the period from 11-1-2020 to 1-2-2021. Many laboratory examinations were performed including: microbiological, biochemical, and molecular tests of 70 samples of UTI patients, which develop yeast colonies on culture plates and were considered as positive results. Our results showed that the extract of the Agaricus gennadii fruit bodies contained a number of organic compounds including phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids and alkaloids. Regarding the susceptibility of the isolated yeast species, many concentrations (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) of the fungal extract were investigated. Data analysis of the obtained results showed that among all tested yeasts, Trichosporon mucoides and Candida parapsilosis were susceptible to the fungal extract at all concentrations, however, no effect of the fungal extract on the rest of the studied yeasts. Also, our results demonstrated that the susceptibility was increased with the increase of the fungal extract concentration. More studies are needed to separate and test the exact role of these compounds in the inhibition of fungal growth.

Biofortification of Three Cultivated Mushroom Species with Three Iron Salts-Potential for a New Iron-Rich Superfood.

Mushrooms fortified with iron (Fe) can offer a promising alternative to counter the worldwide deficiency problem. However, the factors that may influence the efficiency of fortification have not yet been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three Fe forms (FeCl3 6H2O, FeSO4 7H2O, or FeHBED) in three concentrations (5, 10, or 50 mM) for three mushroom species (Pleurotus eryngii, P. ostreatus, or Pholiota nameko) on their chemical composition, phenolic compounds, and organic acid production. The most effective metal accumulation of all the investigated species was for the 50 mM addition. FeCl3 6H2O was the most favorable additive for P. eryngii and P. nameko (up to 145 and 185% Fe more than in the control, respectively) and FeHBED for P. ostreatus (up to 108% Fe more than in control). Additionally, P. nameko showed the highest Fe accumulation among studied species (89.2 ± 7.51 mg kg-1 DW). The creation of phenolic acids was generally inhibited by Fe salt supplementation. However, an increasing effect on phenolic acid concentration was observed for P. ostreatus cultivated at 5 mM FeCl3 6H2O and for P. eryngii cultivated at 5 mM FeCl3 6H2O and 5 mM FeSO4 7H2O. In the case of organic acids, a similar situation was observed. For P. ostreatus, FeSO4 7H2O and FeHBED salts increased the formation of the determined organic acids in fruiting bodies. P. eryngii and P. nameko were characterized by a much lower content of organic acids in the systems supplemented with Fe. Based on the obtained results, we recommend starting fortification by preliminarily indicating which form of the element is preferred for the species of interest for supplementation. It also seems that using an additive concentration of 50 mM or higher is most effective.

Aggregation and conformational change of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) polyphenol oxidase subjected to atmospheric cold plasma treatment.

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a novel nonthermal technology with potential applications in maintaining and improving food quality. The effect of ACP on the activity and structure of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was evaluated. Results demonstrated that the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) based plasma technology could inactivate PPO (up to 69%) at 50 kV with the increased concentrations of H2O2 and NOx. An obvious enhancement of surface hydrophobicity was observed, whereas a gradual reduction of total sulfhydryl content was recorded with the increasing exposure time. Data from circular dichroism, atomic force microscopy, particle size distribution and fluorescence spectra displayed the rearrangement of secondary structure and disruption of the tertiary structure. Red shifts of fluorescence spectra showed positive correlations with the inactivation rate of PPO. Therefore, ACP treatment could be served as an alternative approach to inactivate undesirable enzymes to minimize the loss of food nutrition and quality.

Gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The use of mushrooms in medicine is quite old and the first report about the use of genus Agaricus in treatment of ulcers occurred in Byzantine period. This mushroom is widely consumed as food, tea, food supplements, as well as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications, being cultivated and appreciated in several countries such as Brazil, Korea, Japan and China. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile and the potential gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill (HEAb). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract was chemically characterized by elemental analysis, UPLC-QTOF-MSE, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to elucidate the metabolites present in the extract. The quantification of phenolic compounds and the in vitro antioxidant activities were performed and the gastroprotective effect of this extract was evaluated against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. HEAb was administered by gavage at 5, 25 and 50 mg kg-1 and N-acetylcysteine at 300 mg kg-1 (positive control). Furthermore, the pathways of nitric oxide (NO), Cyclic Guanylate Monophosphate (cGMP), prostaglandins (PGs) and the involvement of ATP-sensitive K+ Channels were modulated. RESULTS: Mannitol, malic acid, pyroglutamic acid, L-agaritine and L-valine were putatively identified by UPLC-QTOF-MSE in HEAb. In addition, it was possible to identify mannitol by the intense signals in the NMR spectra, being still quantified as the main compound in the extract by HPLC. The contents of total phenols and flavonoids corroborated with the good antioxidant activity of HEAb. This study observed that HEAb at 25 and 50 mg kg-1 had gastroprotection effect demonstrated by the reduction of histopathological parameters and the reduction of mastocytosis in the stomach of mice. CONCLUSIONS: In this study was possible to conclude that HEAb has gastroprotective effect related to the involvement of NO and PG pathways in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice.

UV-C treatment inhibits browning, inactivates Pseudomonas tolaasii and reduces associated chemical and enzymatic changes of button mushrooms.

BACKGROUND: Button mushrooms with completely white appearance are popular with consumers. However, button mushrooms are susceptible to infection with Pseudomonas tolaasii, which results in browning. This study evaluates the effects of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) treatment on the inactivation of P. tolaasii in vitro and in vivo and on the physiological and chemical changes of button mushrooms during storage for 21 days at 4 °C. RESULTS: UV-C doses of 0.5 to 9.0 kJ m-2 resulted in 3.91-6.26 log CFU mL-1 reduction of P. tolaasii populations in vitro, and UV-C treatment reduced P. tolaasii populations inoculated on mushroom cap surfaces and browning severity. Moreover, P. tolaasii increased polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and decreased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, the accumulation of phenolics and contents of brown melanin precursors, including γ-l-glutaminyl-4-hydroxybenzene (GHB), γ-l-glutaminyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzene (GDHB), and tyrosine in button mushrooms. UV-C treatment was found to reduce the negative changes due to P. tolaasii infection. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the application of UV-C treatment inhibited browning, inactivated P. tolaasii and reduced P. tolaasii - associated chemical and enzymatic changes of button mushrooms. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of moisture-controlled packaging treatment with acid-modified expanded vermiculite-calcium chloride on the quality of fresh mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during low-temperature storage.

BACKGROUND: Fresh mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are highly perishable and easily lose quality during storage. The packaging system can retard the deterioration of fresh mushrooms. However, water vapor transmission rates of commodity plastic films are lower than the transpiration rate of mushrooms, resulting in increased moisture condensation in the package and perishability of mushrooms due to microbial growth. A possible solution for controlling the humidity level in the package is to use a hygroscopic material. Acid leaching can improve the chemical and physical properties of expanded vermiculite (EV). The aim of this study was to develop a novel hygroscopic agent from acidified expanded vermiculite (AEV) and calcium chloride (CaCl2 ) that has a high moisture absorption capacity and maintains a powdered form in the packaging system for fresh mushrooms. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that leaching EV with hydrochloric acid increased porosity and hydrophilicity. The combination of AEV:CaCl2 at 6:4 (w/w, AEV/CS40) showed the highest moisture adsorption capacity at 1.724 ± 0.03 g water per gram of material. Then, 1.55 g of AEV/CS40 was applied to the mushroom packaging and stored at 4 °C. The results indicated that AEV/CS40 could delay mushroom deterioration in terms of color change, firmness, pH, total soluble solids, and microbial growth. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that the alternative solid hygroscopic material obtained by combining AEV with CaCl2 has potential for use as a hygroscopic material for preserving the quality of white button mushrooms. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Use of Mushrooms and Spirulina Algae as Supplements to Prevent Growth Inhibition in a Pre-Clinical Model for an Unbalanced Diet.

Today's eating patterns are characterized by the consumption of unbalanced diets (UBDs) resulting in a variety of health consequences on the one hand, and the consumption of dietary supplements in order to achieve overall health and wellness on the other. Balanced nutrition is especially crucial during childhood and adolescence as these time periods are characterized by rapid growth and development of the skeleton. We show the harmful effect of UBD on longitudinal bone growth, trabecular and cortical bone micro-architecture and bone mineral density; which were analyzed by micro-CT scanning. Three point bending tests demonstrate the negative effect of the diet on the mechanical properties of the bone material as well. Addition of Spirulina algae or Pleurotus eryngii or Agaricus bisporus mushrooms, to the UBD, was able to improve growth and impaired properties of the bone. 16SrRNA Sequencing identified dysbiosis in the UBD rats' microbiota, with high levels of pro-inflammatory associated bacteria and low levels of bacteria associated with fermentation processes and bone related mechanisms. These results provide insight into the connection between diet, the skeletal system and the gut microbiota, and reveal the positive impact of three chosen dietary supplements on bone development and quality presumably through the microbiome composition.

The anticancer and free radical scavenging potential of the Unani medicine Agaricus albus L.

OBJECTIVES: Traditional Unani medicine plays a major role in maintaining health in developing countries. For ages, Unani physicians have described many Classical Unani Formulations (CUF) for their anti-cancerous action (Dafi'-i-saratan) in the human population. These formulations contain various individual drugs which also have anticancer activity. The present study was designed to screen and compare cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of different extracts of Agaricus albus L. (A. albus), a drug used in the Unani system of medicine on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7). METHODS: Cytotoxic effect was assessed using MTT assay kit and free radical scavenging activity was done by using DPPH assay. Aqueous, hydro-ethanol and methanolic extracts were used at different concentrations. RESULTS: All extracts were shown good antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Among all extracts, maximum cytotoxic effect was observed in methanolic extract and aqueous extract at the concentration of 1,000 µg against MCF-7 cell line in comparison to paclitaxel. The maximum antioxidant activity was observed in the hydroethanolic extract at the concentration of 1,000 µg against the MCF-7 cell line in comparison to ascorbic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The present study advocates, the anticancer and antioxidant property of A. albus and suggests that this drug may be used as a potential drug for cancer treatment after a successful and detailed preclinical study and clinical trial.