The Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma neo-japonicum (Agaricomycetes) Polysaccharide Extract Prevents Obesity-Induced Diabetes in C57BL/6J Mice.

Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki is a medicinal mushroom consumed by the indigenous people in Malaysia as a remedy for diabetes. This study aims to validate the efficacy of G. neo-japonicum polysaccharides (GNJP) on obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were divided into seven groups; normal diet (ND)-control, high-fat-diet (HFD)-control, HFDGNJP-treated (50, 100, 200 mg/kg b.w.), HFDMET (metformin 50 mg/kg; positive-control) and ND-GNJP (200 mg/kg b.w.). Mice were administered GNJP or metformin orally for 10 weeks (thrice/week) and sacrificed after an oral glucose tolerance test. Body weight, serum biochemicals, liver histology, adipocyte gene expressions, glucose and insulin levels were measured. HFD caused obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes in the untreated groups. GNJP (50 mg/kg b.w.) supplementation prevented weight gain and liver steatosis, improved serum lipid profile and glucose tolerance and attenuated hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia more effectively when compared with the other treatment groups. The prevention of obesity and lipid dysregulation is plausibly attributed to the increased hormone-sensitive lipase and reduced Akt-1 and Ppary gene expressions while the up-regulation of AdipoQ (adiponectin), Prkag2 and Slc2a4 genes served to sensitize insulin and improve glucose uptake. Thus, supplementation with an appropriate dose of GNJP has promising efficacies in preventing HFD aka obesity-induced T2DM and associated metabolic abnormalities.

Cytoprotective Effects of the Tiger's Milk Mushroom Lignosus rhinocerotis (Agaricomycetes) Sclerotia against Oxidative Stress in PC12 Cells.

Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden has been reported to possess numerous pharmacological effects. However, little is known about its potential role in mitigating the detrimental effects of oxidative stress. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effects of L. rhinocerotis extracts against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. In the pre-treatment model, PC12 cells were pre-treated with aqueous (LRAQ) or ethanolic (LRET) extracts of L. rhinocerotis for 24 h, followed by 30 µM of H2O2 for 24 h. In the co-treatment model, the cells were incubated with LRAQ or LRET and H2O2 for 2 or 24 h to induce oxidative stress. Cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and apoptotic cells with activated caspase-3/7 were quantified. Additionally, LRET was separated into fractions by chromatographic methods prior to analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). 320 µg/ml aqueous extract showed a significant cytoprotective effect of 70.0 ± 22.4% and 133.92 ± 8.8% in the pre-treatment and co-treatment models, respectively, compared to untreated H2O2-challenged cells. LRAQ also showed a reduction (p < 0.05) in the percentage of depolarized cells of 37.6 ± 0.6% at 640 ug/ml and 53.4 ± 4.5% at 320 ug/ml in the pre-treatment and co-treatment models, respectively, compared to untreated H2O2-challenged cells. LRAQ or LRET showed a reduction (p < 0.01) in caspase 3/7 activity compared to untreated H2O2-challenged cells in the co-treatment model. However, LRAQ or LRET did not reduce excessive ROS formation (p > 0.05). The cytoprotective effects could be attributed to the presence of fatty acids, phenols, phytosterols, and dicarboxylic acids. In conclusion, L. rhinocerotis extracts demonstrated cytoprotective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in an in vitro model, contributing to the maintenance of cellular integrity through the regulation of mitochondrial function and apoptosis.

Ameliorating Effect of the Edible Mushroom Hericium erinaceus on Depressive-Like Behavior in Ovariectomized Rats.

Estrogen deficiency during menopause causes a variety of neurological symptoms, including depression. The edible Lion's Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (HE), is a medicinal mushroom that has the potential for a neuroprotective effect and ameliorating neurological diseases, such as depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. HE contains phytoestrogens, including daidzein and genistein. However, the ameliorating effect of HE on menopausal symptoms is not well understood. Here we investigated the impact of methanol extract of the HE fruiting body on depressive-like behavior in postmenopausal model rats. The activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) causes body weight loss and uterine weight gain. Body weight gain and uterine weight loss by estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized (OVX) rats were reversed with 17ß-estradiol (E2) but not with HE. Thus, the phytoestrogens in HE may hardly activate ERα. Estrogen receptor beta (ERß) is expressed in the brain, and activation of ERß ameliorates menopausal depressive symptoms. Notably, depressive-like behavior in OVX rats evaluated in forced swim test was reduced by administration of not only E2 but also HE for 92 d. Long-term activation of ERα increases the risk of breast and uterine cancers. HE, therefore, may be effective in treating menopausal depression without the risk of carcinogenesis caused by ERα activation.

Bibliometric Analysis of Mushroom Poisoning: From Diversity to Clinical Management.

The earliest publication related to mushroom poisoning dates back to 1837. To date, bibliometric analysis related to the field of mushroom poisoning has not been published. This study aimed to assess the most significant publications in this field as well as the associated trends and important drivers in the research related to mushroom poisoning. The Scopus database was screened to identify relevant publications on mushroom poisoning. A total of 985 publications with a minimum of five citations were identified and analyzed. Pearson's correlation demonstrated an insignificant weak negative correlation (Pearson's correlation of -0.020, P > 0.01) between the number of years since publication and the number of citation counts of a paper. Bradford's law of scattering revealed that one-third of publications were published in 31 core journals, with Clinical Toxicology topping the list (41 papers). VOSviewer was used to generate a network visualization based on country. The United States was the largest contributor of publications on mushroom poisoning, contributing 19.6% of 985. China is an emerging leader in publications on mushroom poisoning research since 2011, with the most recent average publication year of 2011.18. A term map was also created to visualize the co-occurrence of key terms, whereby Amanita phalloides-related research appeared to be the most frequently published topic in this field. In conclusion, the results of this bibliometric study shed light on the status of mushroom poisoning research and can guide investigators on current research trends for high-impact knowledge contribution in the field.

Impact of Storage Temperatures on the Quality of Oven-Dried Black Jelly Mushroom, Auricularia nigricans (Agaricomycetes).

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of various storage temperatures (4, 25, and 35°C) on quality parameters and microbial counts of oven-dried black jelly mushroom (Auricularia nigricans) for a period of 60 days. The mushroom was dried using a cabinet dryer at 60°C for 24 h to a constant weight prior to storage. The water activity of oven-dried A. nigricans indicated a 96% increment (35°C) compared to 40% (4°C) after being stored for 60 days. Similarly, moisture content showed approximately 4-fold elevation at 35°C compared to a 2-fold increase at 4°C after 60 days. However, at the end of storage, total phenolic content underwent a 46% reduction for storage at 35°C compared to a 29% reduction at 4°C. Likewise, the ferric reducing antioxidant power was also reduced nearly 45% (35°C) compared to 40%(4°C). Microbial counts at 4°C were lower [6.40 log colony forming units (CFU)/g] compared to storage at 35°C (6.47 log CFU/g) after 60 days. Taken altogether, the best storage temperature for oven-dried black jelly mushroom was at 4°C.

ß-Glucan-Rich Extract of Gray Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Improves Object Recognition Memory and Hippocampus Morphology in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Obesity may cause behavioral alterations, while maternal obesity can contribute to metabolic disorders in subsequent generations. The effect of ß-glucan-rich Pleurotus pulmonarius (ßgPp) was investigated on mouse neurobehavior and hippocampus and its offspring's hippocampus development. Female ICR mice were fed with normal diet (ND), ND with ßgPp, high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD with ßgPp for 3 months followed by behavioral test and mating. Immunohistochemistry for the expression of neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1) in the hippocampus was carried out. ßgPp significantly enhanced short-term object recognition memory in HFD-fed mice. ßgPp also ameliorated the histological alterations and neuronal loss and increased Iba-1-positive microglia in the hippocampus regions of HFD-fed mice and their male offspring. These findings demonstrated that ßgPp supplementation attenuated the effects of HFD on object recognition memory and the alterations on the hippocampal regions of maternal mice and their male offspring.

Upcycling the Spent Mushroom Substrate of the Grey Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius as a Source of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes for Palm Oil Mill Effluent Hydrolysis.

Mushroom cultivation along with the palm oil industry in Malaysia have contributed to large volumes of accumulated lignocellulosic residues that cause serious environmental pollution when these agroresidues are burned. In this study, we illustrated the utilization of lignocellulolytic enzymes from the spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus pulmonarius for the hydrolysis of palm oil mill effluent (POME). The hydrolysate was used for the production of biohydrogen gas and enzyme assays were carried out to determine the productivities/activities of lignin peroxidase, laccase, xylanase, endoglucanase and ß-glucosidase in spent mushroom substrate. Further, the enzyme cocktails were concentrated for the hydrolysis of POME. Central composite design of response surface methodology was performed to examine the effects of enzyme loading, incubation time and pH on the reducing sugar yield. Productivities of the enzymes for xylanase, laccase, endoglucanase, lignin peroxidase and ß-glucosidase were 2.3, 4.1, 14.6, 214.1, and 915.4 U g-1, respectively. A maximum of 3.75 g/l of reducing sugar was obtained under optimized conditions of 15 h incubation time with 10% enzyme loading (v/v) at a pH of 4.8, which was consistent with the predicted reducing sugar concentration (3.76 g/l). The biohydrogen cumulative volume (302.78 ml H2.L-1 POME) and 83.52% biohydrogen gas were recorded using batch fermentation which indicated that the enzymes of spent mushroom substrate can be utilized for hydrolysis of POME.

A 53-Year Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis of Research in Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms.

The research field of culinary and medicinal mushrooms has been well developed since the first relevant publication in 1966. However, to date, there has been no bibliometric analysis published specifically for this field. This study aimed to assess the most influential publications as well as the research trends and important drivers in the field of culinary and medicinal mushrooms. Scopus was used to identify relevant publications and the 1000 most-cited publications were identified and analyzed. Bradford's law of scattering shows one-third of the papers were published in 14 core journals, with a total of 102 papers published in International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. There is an insignificant negative correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r = -0.355) between the journal impact factor and publication count. VOSviewer was used to generate a country network. China represents Asia's research center in this field, having contributed 20% of the 1000 most-cited publications. A term map was also created to visualize the co-occurrence of key terms in the domain. Different biological activities such as antioxidant and antitumor properties of mushrooms appeared to be a recurring topic in this field. Wasser (2003) showed the highest citation count (n = 1282), which is almost double the second most-cited publication (n = 611). There is a weak positive correlation (r = +0.237) between the years since publication and total citation count. In conclusion, this bibliometric study will assist researchers to comprehend the current status of the research on culinary and medicinal mushrooms, and to visualize the future impact of such an important field.

The Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma neo-japonicum (Agaricomycetes) from Malaysia: Nutritional Composition and Potentiation of Insulin-Like Activity in 3T3-L1 Cells.

Ganoderma neo-japonicum is an annual polypore mushroom that is consumed by Malaysian indigenous tribes to treat various ailments including diabetes. The present study aimed to investigate the nutritive composition and in vitro antihyperglycemic effects of G. neo-japonicum extracts on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Nutritional analysis of G. neo-japonicum basidiocarps indicated a predominant presence of carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fiber, and microelements. Hot aqueous extract (AE) and its isolated (1,3)(1,6)-ß-D-glucan polysaccharide (GNJP) from basidiocarps of G. neo-japonicum were evaluated for their ability to stimulate insulin independent adipogenesis, glucose uptake, adiponectin secretion, and regulate gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. GNJP showed a dose dependent stimulation of glucose uptake and adiponectin secretion but attenuated lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. It upregulated the expressions of adiponectin, Aktl (protein kinase B), PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma), PRKAG2 (protein kinase, AMP activated), and Slc2a4 (glucose transporter) genes to stimulate glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells, which may have contributed to the insulin-mimicking activities observed in this study. In summary, the nutritive compositions and significant glucose uptake stimulatory activities of GNJP indicated that it may have potential use in the formulation of functional food for the management of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and related complications.

Comparative Neuroprotective, Anti-Inflammatory and Neurite Outgrowth Activities of Extracts of King Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii (Agaricomycetes).

Pleurotus eryngii (king oyster mushroom) is a renowned culinary mushroom with various medicinal properties that may be beneficial for health maintenance and disease prevention. However, its effect on the nervous system remains elusive. In this study, hot water (PE-HWA) and ethanol (PE-ETH) extracts of P. eryngii were investigated and compared for their neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and neurite outgrowth activities in vitro. Based on the results, both extracts up to 400 µg/mL were nontoxic to PC12 cells and BV2 microglia (p > 0.05). Treatment with 250 µM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) markedly (p < 0.0001) reduced the PC12 cell viability to 67.74 ± 6.47%. Coincubation with 200 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL of PE-ETH dose-dependently increased the cell viability to 85.34 ± 1.91% (p < 0.001) and 98.37 ± 6.42% (p < 0.0001) respectively, while PE-HWA showed no activity. Nitric oxide (NO) released by BV2 microglia was notably (p < 0.0001) increased by 1 µg/mL lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from 7.46 ± 0.73 µM to 80.00 ± 3.78 µM indicating an inflammatory reaction. However, coincubation with 200 and 400 µg/mL of PE-ETH significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced the NO level to 58.57 ± 6.19 µM and 52.86 ± 3.43 µM respectively, while PE-HWA was noneffective. PE-ETH and PE-HWA at 40 µg/mL significantly increased the neurite-bearing cells from 4.70 ± 3.36% to 13.12 ± 2.82% (p < 0.01) and 20.93 ± 5.37% (p < 0.0001) respectively. Pleurotus eryngii, particularly the ethanol extract (PE-ETH) and its potentially bioactive compounds, could be explored as a neurohealth promoting agent, due to its collective neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and neurite outgrowth activities.

Lipids in an Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Caterpillar Medicinal Mushroom, Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes), Reduce Nitric Oxide Production in BV2 Cells via NRF2 and NF-κB Pathways.

Cordyceps militaris is known for its curative properties. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the reduction of nitric oxide production by BV2 cells by the bioactive fraction of stroma powder of C. militaris, and to deduce the potential chemical components and pathways that may be responsible. The CE2 fraction from ethyl acetate extract did not exert any cytotoxic effects toward the BV2 cells at concentrations 0.1 to 100 µg/mL. The CE2 fraction also showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in nitric oxide production at 1-100 µg/mL. At 10 µg/mL, the CE2 fraction attenuated 85% of the NO production in BV2 cells. Further, the CE2 fraction (10 µg/mL) downregulated inflammatory genes, iNOS and COX-2, and upregulated anti-inflammatory genes, HO-1 and NQO-1. The CE2 fraction reduced NO production via activation of NRF2 and NF-κB transcriptions. The chemical constituents of the bioactive CE2 fraction were identified via GCMS. Eleven lipid components were identified including fatty acids, fatty acid esters, and sterols.

Dietary Polyphenols: A Multifactorial Strategy to Target Alzheimer's Disease.

Ageing is an inevitable fundamental process for people and is their greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative disease. The ageing processes bring changes in cells that can drive the organisms to experience loss of nutrient sensing, disrupted cellular functions, increased oxidative stress, loss of cellular homeostasis, genomic instability, accumulation of misfolded protein, impaired cellular defenses and telomere shortening. Perturbation of these vital cellular processes in neuronal cells can lead to life threatening neurological disorders like Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Lewy body dementia, etc. Alzheimer's Disease is the most frequent cause of deaths in the elderly population. Various therapeutic molecules have been designed to overcome the social, economic and health care burden caused by Alzheimer's Disease. Almost all the chemical compounds in clinical practice have been found to treat symptoms only limiting them to palliative care. The reason behind such imperfect drugs may result from the inefficiencies of the current drugs to target the cause of the disease. Here, we review the potential role of antioxidant polyphenolic compounds that could possibly be the most effective preventative strategy against Alzheimer's Disease.

Anti-viral activity of culinary and medicinal mushroom extracts against dengue virus serotype 2: an in-vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that has become a major public health concern worldwide. Presently, there is no specific vaccine or treatment available for dengue viral infection. METHODS: Lignosus rhinocerotis, Pleurotus giganteus, Hericium erinaceus, Schizophyllum commune and Ganoderma lucidium were selected for evaluation of their in-vitro anti-dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) activities. Hot aqueous extracts (HAEs), ethanol extracts (EEs), hexane soluble extracts (HSEs), ethyl acetate soluble extracts (ESEs) and aqueous soluble extracts (ASEs) were prepared from the selected mushrooms. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were evaluated by the MTT assay. The anti-DENV-2 activities of the extracts were evaluated in three different assays: simultaneous, attachment and penetration assays were perfomed using plaque reduction assays and RT-qPCR assays. The effect of the addition time on viral replication was assessed by the time of addition assay, and a virucidal assay was carried out to evaluate the direct effect of each mushroom extract on DENV-2. The chemical composition of glucans, and the protein and phenolic acid contents in the extracts were estimated. RESULTS: We found that the HAEs and ASEs of L. rhinocerotis, P. giganteus, H. erinaceus and S. commune were the least toxic to Vero cells and showed very prominent anti-DENV2 activity. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the ASEs ranged between 399.2-637.9 µg/ml, while for the HAEs the range was 312.9-680.6 µg/ml during simultaneous treatment. Significant anti-dengue activity was also detected in the penetration assay of ASEs (IC50: 226.3-315.4 µg/ml) and HAEs (IC50: 943.1-2080.2 µg/ml). Similarly, we observed a marked reduction in the expression levels of the ENV and NS5 genes in the simultaneous and penetration assays of the ASEs and HAEs. Time-of-addition experiments showed that the highest percent of anti-DENV2 activity was observed when the mushroom extracts were added immediately after virus adsorption. None of the extracts exhibited virucidal effect. Chemical composition analysis showed that the major components in the mushroom HAEs and ASEs were glucan (beta D-glucan) and proteins, however, there was no significant correlation between the anti-dengue activity and the concentration of glucans and proteins. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated the potential of mushroom extracts as anti-dengue therapeutic agents with less toxic effects.

Cell Proliferation and DNA Repair Ability of Ganoderma neo-japonicum (Agaricomycetes): An Indigenous Medicinal Mushroom from Malaysia.

Ganoderma neo-japonicum is an annual polypore that grows on decaying bamboo in the forests of Malaysia. The indigenous Temuan tribe uses this species as a medicinal mushroom to cure fever and epilepsy and to improve body strength. The potential use of G. neo-japonicum in genoprotection and DNA repair was established using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. The effects of the ethanol and hot aqueous extracts from wild and cultivated basidiocarps, solid substrate-fermented (SSF) wheat grains, and mycelia via submerged culture on H2O2-damaged murine RAW264.7 macrophages were investigated. An ethanol extract from wild basidiocarps showed the most significant protective effect on murine RAW264.7 macrophages, followed by ethanol and hot water extracts of cultivated basidiocarps, and this effect was dose dependent. However, only the ethanol extracts from SSF and submerged culture showed significant protective effects compared with the control. As for DNA repair ability, only the ethanol extract from wild and cultivated basidiocarps showed significant results when compared with the negative control. The findings suggest the potential therapeutic use of G. neo-japonicum in genome protection and as a DNA repair stimulator.

Surface Decoration of Selenium Nanoparticles by Proteins from the Culinary-Medicinal Shiitake Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes), for Enhanced Fibrinolytic Activity.

Lentinus edodes (shiitake mushroom) has exhibited fibrinolytic activity. We synthesized and characterized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using protein precipitated from the mushroom. We also investigated the fibrinolytic activity of the SeNPs. The proteins from a crude extract of L. edodes were recovered through the use of aqueous 2-phase separation, and these we used as the capping agent in SeNP biosynthesis. We characterized the SeNPs using UV-visible spectrophotometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size distribution analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The fibrinolytic capability of the SeNPs was tested through an in vitro fibrin plate assay. The UV-visible spectra showed maximal absorbance at 220 nm. FESEM images showed that the SeNPs were dispersed and did not clump. The TEM images revealed a spherical shape and average size of the SeNPs. The particle size distribution analysis confirmed the mean size of the SeNPs at 64.53 nm. A strong signal for the presence of selenium was observed in the EDX analysis. The FT-IR spectrum revealed the involvement of protein functional groups in the reduction of sel-enite. Overall, the SeNPs capped with protein from shiitake mushroom were effective as an in vitro fibrinolytic agent.

The role of chalcones: helichrysetin, xanthohumol, and flavokawin-C in promoting neurite outgrowth in PC12 Adh cells.

Chalcones are a group of compounds widely distributed in plant kingdom. The aim of this study was to assess the neurite outgrowth stimulatory activity of selected chalcones, namely helichrysetin, xanthohumol and flavokawin-C. Using adherent rat pheochromocytoma (PC12 Adh) cells, the chalcones were subjected to neurite outgrowth assay and the extracellular nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were determined. Xanthohumol (10 µg/mL) displayed the highest (p < 0.05) percentage of neurite-bearing PC12 Adh cells and the highest (p < 0.05) NGF level in the culture medium of xanthohumol-treated cells. While, helichrysetin induced a moderately high numbers of neurite-bearing cells, flavokawin-C did not stimulate neurite outgrowth. This work supports the potential use of xanthohumol as a potential neuroactive compound to stimulate neurite outgrowth.

Corrigendum to "Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Following Crush Injury to Rat Peroneal Nerve by Aqueous Extract of Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae)".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ecam/neq062.].

Functional Properties of Partially Characterized Polysaccharide from the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma neo-japonicum (Agaricomycetes).

This study was conducted to evaluate the mycochemical composition and antiglycemic and antioxidant activities of Ganoderma neo-japonicum hot aqueous extracts, prepared at different boiling durations, and polysaccharides isolated from them. Ground basidiocarps of G. neo-japonicum were double-boiled at 100°C for 0.5, 3, or 4 hours, and the antiglycemic activity was assessed by α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays. The antioxidant capacity of the crude hot aqueous extracts (AE-1, AE-2, AE-3) was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. The total phenolics, protein, and sugar in the crude extracts were also determined. The hot aqueous extract (AE-3) containing a significant amount of total sugar and having enhanced antiglycemic and antioxidant activities was selected for polysaccharide isolation. The isolated crude polysaccharide was separated and purified using diethylaminoethyl-cellulose-52 and Sepharose 6B column chromatography. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of the purified polysaccharide fraction (PF) showed the presence of typical bands corresponding to polysaccharides. The estimated ß-glucan concentration in the PF was 39.26%. In general, the PF exhibited significantly lower antioxidant activity than AE-3. Nevertheless, its potency in inhibiting carbohydratehydrolyzing enzymes may have potential in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Tiger's Milk Medicinal Mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Agaricomycetes) Sclerotium Inhibits Nitric Oxide Production in LPS-Stimulated BV2 Microglia.

In Malaysia and China, the sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerotis is used by local communities and traditional medicine practitioners as a general tonic and remedy to treat a variety of ailments, including inflammation-associated disorders. In this study, 10 samples from different preparations of L. rhinocerotis sclerotium, including a hot aqueous extract (HAE), an ethanol extract (EE), fractions from the HAE and EE, and crude polysaccharides, were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)--stimulated BV2 microglia. Of the 10 samples tested, HAE was the least cytotoxic toward BV2 microglia, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 176.23 ± 2.64 mg/mL at 24 hours of incubation and 20.01 ± 1.69 mg/ mL at 48 hours of incubation. The inhibition of NO production was explored by pretreatment of BV2 microglia with samples at 2 incubation time points (4 and 24 hours) before the stimulation by LPS for 24 hours. After 24 hours of pretreatment, 8 of the 10 samples inhibited NO production by 50% or more, and cytotoxic effects were not observed. Among the 8 active samples, 500 µg/mL of HAE, 250 µg/mL of an n-butanol fraction of the HAE, and 250 µg/mL of an ethyl acetate fraction of HAE showed maximum inhibition of NO production by 88.95%, 86.50%, and 85.93%, respectively. These results suggest that the L. rhinocerotis sclerotium may contain secondary metabolites that have the potential to inhibit NO production.

An Overview of Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms in Neurodegeneration and Neurotrauma Research.

Culinary and medicinal mushrooms have been appreciated since prehistoric times as valuable resources for food and medicine. Edible mushrooms represent an untapped source of nutraceuticals and valuable palatable food. Long considered tonics, they are now treasured as functional foods that can improve human health and quality of life. Numerous studies have provided insights into the neuroprotective effects of edible mushrooms, which are attributed to their antioxidant, antineuroinflammatory, and cholinesterase inhibitory properties, and their ability to prevent neuronal death. Here we review the recent literature on the role of culinary and medicinal mushrooms in the management of neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma. We highlight some of the molecular mechanisms for how these alternative medicines provide health benefits that could help us to harness their neuroprotective effects.