Chemical Constituents from Mushroom Suillus luteus (Agaricomycetes) and Their Bioactivities.

Wild edible mushrooms are a huge source to discover bioactive natural products. In this work, one new polyprenylphenol derivative, termed 2-geranylgeranyl-1,4-benzenediol 1-O-acetate (1), together with eight known compounds (2-9) were isolated from wild edible mushroom Suillus luteus. The structure of new compound was elucidated by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance data. The structures of known compounds were elucidated by comparison of their nuclear magnetic resonance data with literature data. Compounds 1-7 exhibited significant 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity with IC50 values ranging from 1.55 ± 0.29 to 19.89 ± 2.28 µM. In addition, compounds 1-7 also showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 21.97 ± 3.74 to 66.26 ± 6.85 µM.

Effect of vitamin D3 on hyperplasia of mammary glands in experimental rats.

BACKGROUND: 1,25(OH)2D3/vitamin D3 receptor (VD3/VDR) signaling pathway can inhibit the occurrence of breast cancer in many ways. We used vitamin D3 to interfere with Hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) model rats, and to explore the intervention effect of vitamin D3 on HMG. METHODS: We divided 42 female rats into six groups randomly: blank control group, hyperplasia model group, negative control group, and vitamin D3 (VD3) groups of low-dose (LVD, 5 µg/kg), medium-dose (MVD, 10 µg/kg), and high-dose (HVD, 20 µg/kg). We established HMG model in all groups except for the blank control group, then different dose of VD3 was intraperitoneal injected for VD3 groups and normal saline (NS) was given to the negative control group. After the experiment, the body weights, heights and diameters of nipples, and the thickness of the mammary gland of rats were measured. The serum content of sex hormone and VD3 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The tissues of mammary glands were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain, and the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), and VDR were detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) stain. Similarly, the total protein expression of ERα, PR, and VDR were measured by western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the hyperplasia group, rats in the VD3 groups displayed a marked decrease of the thickness of the mammary glands and the height and diameter of the nipples. The serum estrogen (E2), testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and VD3 was markedly decreased in all VD3 groups (P<0.05). The IHC results showed that ERα and PR was decreased in all three VD3 groups; however, VDR was increased. Western blot demonstrated that both ERα and PR were reduced in VD3 groups, while the VDR level was significantly enhanced. Overall, the findings suggested that VD3 could be used in HMG treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of VD3 could markedly decrease the mammary gland thickness, nipple diameter, and nipple height of rats, accompanied by the decrease of serum E2, T, and LH. Intervention with VD3 can lead to decreased expression of ERa and PR, in conjunction with the increase of VDR.

Armillaria mellea fermentation liquor ameliorates p-chlorophenylalanine-induced insomnia associated with the modulation of serotonergic system and gut microbiota in rats.

In China, Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. has been used as a folk medicine to treat insomnia for several hundred years. However, the underlying mechanisms involved are currently unknown. In this study, the anti-insomnia efficacy of A. mellea fermentation liquor (AFL) was evaluated in p-chlorophenylalanine-induced insomnia rats by measuring the serotonergic systems and gut microbiota. Our results demonstrate that all doses of AFL significantly reduced locomotor activity and alleviated decreasing weights in insomnia rats. Further, AFL exhibited better sedative effects by reducing sleep latency and increasing sleep duration in pentobarbital-treated rats. AFL treatment also elevated serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels, while reducing serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1ß levels. Furthermore, AFL alleviated insomnia by enhancing 5-hydroxytryptamine content and the expression 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor in the hippocampus. Meanwhile, AFL treatment normalized the composition of gut microbiota in insomnia-model rats, while increasing relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Saccharimonadaceae restores the gut microbial ecosystem altered in insomnia rats. The experiments show that A. mellea alleviated insomnia by modulating serotonergic system and gut microbiota. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Insomnia has become a serious health issue of global concern. As a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, Armillaria mellea has been clinically employed in the treatment of insomnia for centuries in Asia with significant efficacy. In the present study, we firstly reported A. mellea fermentation liquor potentially relieved insomnia rats by alteration of gut microbiota and serotonergic systems and could guide future clinical studies. As a popular edible and medicinal mushroom, A. mellea also can be potentially used in the development and production of novel food products in the future.

New aniline derivatives from the volva of Phallus rubrovolvatus and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Phallus rubrovolvatus is an important commercially cultivated mushroom species in China. However, the volva of P. rubrovolvatus usually discarded as a by-product due to the unpleasant flavor and difficulty in processing. In this study, we investigated the chemical constituents and bioactivities of the volva of P. rubrovolvatus. As a result, fifteen rare aniline derivatives, including twelve new compounds (1-11, 14) and three new natural products (12, 13, 15) were isolated from the volva. Their structures were determined using 1D and 2D NMR data and HR-ESI-MS data, while the relative and absolute configurations were confirmed by NOESY correlations and comparison between experimental and calculated ECD spectra. In addition, compounds 1-15 were tested for anti-inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Compounds 4, 9 and 10 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values ranging from 12.5 to 15.6 µM.

The MADS-box transcription factor GlMADS1 regulates secondary metabolism in Ganoderma lucidum.

MADS-box transcription factors play crucial roles in regulating development processes and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in eukaryotes. However, the role of MADS-box transcription factors vary among fungal species, and their function remains unclear in the medicinally and economically important fungus Ganoderma lucidum. In this study, we characterized a MADS-box gene, GlMADS1, in G. lucidum. Analyses using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that GlMADS1 expression levels were up-regulated from the mycelia to the primordia stage. In order to further evaluate the effect of MADS-box transcription factors on secondary metabolism, we utilized RNA interference (RNAi) to silence GlMADS1 in G. lucidum. Ganoderic acid (GA) and flavonoid contents were enhanced in GlMADS1-silenced strains, suggesting that GlMADS1 negatively regulates GA and flavonoid accumulation.

Scopulibacillus cellulosilyticus sp. nov., a cellulose-degrading bacterium isolated from tea.

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, non-motile, endospore-forming and rod-shaped strain (THG-NT9T) was isolated from a green tea sample. Growth occurred at 20-45 °C (optimum 28-35 °C), at pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum 7.0) and at 0-2.0% NaCl (optimum 0%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the near phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-NT9T were identified as Scopulibacillus daqui DSM 28236T (98.6%), Scopulibacillus darangshiensis DSM 19377T (97.4%), Pullulanibacillus pueri CGMCC 1.12777T (96.7%) and Pullulanibacillus camelliae CGMCC 1.15371T (96.3%). The DNA G + C content of strain THG-NT9T was determined to be 47.5 mol %. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-NT9T and S. daqui DSM 28236T, S. darangshiensis DSM 19377T, P. pueri CGMCC 1.12777T, P. camelliae CGMCC 1.15371T and Pullulanibacillus naganoensis DSM 10191T were 41.3 ± 0.1 (39.4 ± 0.4% reciprocal analysis), 39.1 ± 0.1 (37.3 ± 0.1%), 21.4 ± 0.7 (20.1 ± 0.3%), 20.7 ± 0.1 (20.1 ± 0.4%) and 12.1 ± 0.2% (8.3 ± 0.2%). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified lipids. The quinone was identified as MK-7. The major fatty acids were C18:3 ω7c, iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0, iso-C17:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The cell wall type was determined to be A1γ peptidoglycan with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid plus alanine and glutamic acid and glucose as the cell wall sugar. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics, and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-NT9T represents a novel species of the genus Scopulibacillus, for which the name Scopulibacillus cellulosilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-NT9T (= KCTC 33918T = CGMCC 1.16305T).

Assessing the effects of different agro-residue as substrates on growth cycle and yield of Grifola frondosa and statistical optimization of substrate components using simplex-lattice design.

Grifola frondosa is an economically important edible and medicinal mushroom usually produced on substrate consisting of sawdust supplemented with wheat bran. Cultivation of G. frondosa on crop straw (corn cob, corn straw, rice straw, and soybean straw) as a substrate was optimized by using the D-optimum method of the simplex-lattice design, and the alternative of crop straw as a substitute for sawdust in the substrate composition was determined by the optimized model. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation existing between the yield and corn cob. The growth cycle was negatively correlated with sawdust, corn cob and soybean straw, with sawdust significantly shortening the growth cycle of G. frondosa. The optimized high-yielding formula included 73.125% corn cob, 1.875% rice straw, 23% wheat bran and 2% light calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (C/N = 48.40). The average yield of the first flush was 134.72 ± 4.24 g/bag, which was increased by 39.97% compared with the control formula. The biological efficiency (BE) was 44.91 ± 1.41%, which was increased by 38.53% compared with the control. Based on the results of this study, corn cob can replace sawdust as one of the main cultivation substrates of G. frondosa.

Sphingomonas rhizophila sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive bacteria (THG-T61T), was isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 25-30 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum 7.0) and in the presence of 0-2.0 % NaCl (optimum without NaCl supplement). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T61T were identified as Sphingomonas ginsengisoli KCTC 12630T (97.9 %), Sphingomonas jaspsi DSM 18422T (97.8 %), Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens NBRC 102146T (97.4 %), Sphingomonassediminicola KCTC 12629T (97.2 %), 'Sphingomonas swuensis' KCTC 12336 (97.1 %) and Sphingomonas daechungensis KCTC 23718T (96.9 %). The isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω6c, summed feature 4 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and summed feature 7 (C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω9t and/or C18 : 1ω12t). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified phosphoglycolipid. The polyamine was homospermidine. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T61T was 65.6 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-T61T and its closest reference strains were less than 49.2 %, which is lower than the threshold value of 70 %. Therefore, strain THG-T61T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas rhizophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T61T (=KACC 19189T=CCTCC AB 2016245T).

Research and implementation of good agricultural practice for traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Jilin Province, China.

Jilin Province is one of the principal production bases of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China with its typical preponderance in TCM resources, research and development power, and industrialization capacity. The province has 2,790 species of TCM materials in total. Over 20% of the TCM materials in common use are from Jilin Province. The province has established 36 good agricultural practice bases for 22 typical TCMs. The overall situation, in terms of collection, processing, and preparation, and the implementation of good agricultural practice of TCM materials in Jilin Province are summarized.

Inhibitory and Acceleratory Effects of Inonotus obliquus on Tyrosinase Activity and Melanin Formation in B16 Melanoma Cells.

The aim of the present study is to preliminarily investigate the antimelanogenesis effect of Inonotus obliquus extracts by cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay. It was found that petroleum ether and n-butanol extracts might contain unknown potential tyrosinase inhibitors, while its ethyl acetate extract might contain some unknown accelerators. Six compounds were isolated and their structures were identified by interpretation of NMR data and nicotinic acid was first discovered in Inonotus obliquus. In cells testing, betulin and trametenolic acid decreased tyrosinase activity and melanin content, while inotodiol and lanosterol significantly increased tyrosinase activity and melanin content, showing an AC⁡50 of 9.74 and 8.43 µM, respectively. Nicotinie acid, 3ß,22,25-trihydroxy-lanosta-8-ene, had a little or no effect on tyrosinase. Betulin exhibited a mode of noncompetitive inhibition with a K I = K IS of 0.4 µM on tyrosinase activity showing an IC50 of 5.13 µM and being more effective than kojic acid (6.43 µM), and trametenolic acid exhibited a mode of mixed inhibition with a K I of 0.9 µM, K IS of 0.5 µM, and an IC50 of 7.25 µM. We proposed betulin and trametenolic acid as a new candidate of potent tyrosinase inhibitors and inotodiol and lanosterol as accelerators that could be used as therapeutic agent.

Pulsed electric field extraction enhanced anti-coagulant effect of fungal polysaccharide from Jew's ear (Auricularia auricula).

INTRODUCTION: As a Chinese herbal medicine, Jew's ear has been known for its anti-coagulant effects. Hence it is worthwhile developing an effective technique to extract active components. OBJECTIVE: To find the optimal extraction condition and to identify the best strain to yield fungal polysaccharide with anti-coagulant activity. METHODOLOGY: Three strains of Jew's ear from Jilin Province, named as 988, DY 18 and FS 02, and three extraction techniques, namely, high intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF), microwave-assisted extraction method (MAEM) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction method (UAEM), were applied to optimise the extraction conditions. The crude extracts and polysaccharides were further determined for anti-coagulant activities. RESULTS: All extracts prolonged blood clotting time as compared to reagent control. The HIPEF exhibited the most remarkable effect among the three extraction techniques. The anti-coagulant activities of extracts were enhanced with increasing electric field strength when the field strength reached 24 kV/cm. CONCLUSION: Current results suggest that the HIPEF technique will be an effective method in the manufacture of bioactive natural polysaccharide.

Tigliane-type diterpenoid glycosides from Euphorbia fischeriana.

Investigation of whole plants of Euphorbia fischeriana afforded three new tigliane-diterpenoid glycosides, fischerosides A-C (1-3), together with 11 known diterpenoids. Fischerosides A-C (1-3) are the first tigliane-type diterpenoid glucosides. Their structures were determined by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR, MS, and acid hydrolysis. Inhibitory activity against HIV-1 was assessed for compounds 1-5. The new compound 3 showed an EC50 value of 0.02 µM and a therapeutic index (TI) of 17.50, while prostratin (4) and 12-deoxyphorbol-13,20-diacetate (5) showed significantly greater anti-HIV-1 activity.