The protective effects of the Lactarius deliciosus and Agrocybe cylindracea mushrooms on histopathology of carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in rats.

We investigated the protective effects of L. deliciosus and A. cylindracea supplementation against carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) induced oxidative stress by measuring levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and by observing histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues of rats. We divided 36 rats into six groups: control, CCl4, L. deliciosus, A. cylindracea, CCl4 + L. deliciosus, and CCl4 + A. cylindracea. We found that administration of CCI4, A. cylindracea, and CCl4 + A. cylindracea increased MPO and ADA levels. We observed severe hepato-renal degenerative and necrotic lesions in the CCI4, A. cylindracea and CCl4 + A. cylindracea groups. Severe lesions of the liver and kidney were not observed with A. cylindracea administration. CCI4 induced hepato-renal lesions were ameliorated by L. deliciosus extract supplementation. L. deliciosus could be an important dietary antioxidant for preventing histologic lesions in liver and kidney due to CCI4 induced oxidative stress in rats.

Determination of Tissue Protective and Antioxidant Activities of Two Medicinal Mushrooms from Turkey against CCl4-lnduced Experimental Oxidative Stress in Rats.

This study aimed at determining hepatoprotective and antioxidants effects of Lactarius deliciosus and Agrocybe cylindracea against CCl4-induced oxidative stress (OS) in rats. Herein, 36 rats were divided into 6 groups: (I) Control, (II) CCl4, (III) CCl4 + L. deliciosus, (IV) L. deliciosus, (V) CCl4 + A. cylindracea, and (VI) A. cylindracea. According to the 7-week study results, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) (brain), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (kidney), malondialdehyde (MDA) (kidney), MDA (spleen), MDA (erythrocyte), GST (erythrocyte), and GST (liver) in group III (at 10%, 26%, 34%, 57%, 7%, 25%, 42%, 27%, and 35%, respectively) were significantly lower than in group II. Moreover, the reduced glutathione (GSH) (spleen) and catalase (spleen) in group III (at 20% and 38%, respectively) were significantly higher than in group II. AST, ALT, triglyceride, glutathione reductase (GR) (brain), GR (kidney), SOD (spleen), and SOD (liver) in group V (at 194%, 147%, 38%, 36%, 66%, 8%, and 7%, respectively) were significantly higher than in group II. However, MDA (kidney), MDA (erythrocyte), (GSH) (erythrocyte), MDA (liver), GSH (liver), and GST (liver) in group V (at 48%, 35%, 34%, 15%, 30%, and 41%, respectively) were significantly lower than in group II. Hence, while L. deliciosus may exhibit tissue-protective against CCl4-induced OS in rats, A. cylindracea does not.

The antioxidative and anti-aging effects of acidic- and alkalic-extractable mycelium polysaccharides by Agrocybe aegerita (Brig.) Sing.

Two extractable polysaccharides of Ac-MPS and Al-MPS were extracted from the mycelium of Agrocybe aegerita (Brig.) Sing and the in vitro antioxidant activities and in vivo anti-aging activities in a d-gal-induced aging mice were investigated in the present study. The in vitro antioxidant analysis showed that Ac-MPS showed superior scavenging effects on hydroxyl of 68.62±2.59% and DPPH of 85.19±3.26% at the concentration of 4500µg/mL. Biochemical indices and antioxidant analysis in vivo showed that Ac-MPS had better effects in raising hepatic activities of SOD, CAT, GPx and T-AOC, inhibiting hepatic contents of LPO and MDA, as well as improving serum lipid levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, TG and TC. Furthermore, HYP measurements suggested that skin collagen in aging mice could be maintained. This study suggested that both Ac-MPS and Al-MPS could be used as potential natural agents or dietary supplements in attenuating aging and its complications.

Optimization of Mycelia Selenium Polysaccharide Extraction from Agrocybe cylindracea SL-02 and Assessment of their Antioxidant and Anti-Ageing Activities.

The aim of the present study was to optimize the purification of mycelia selenium polysaccharides (MSPS) from Agrocybe cylindracea SL-02 and characterize their in vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-ageing activities. The Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) was evaluated, which showed that the optimum conditions included an extraction temperature of 94.99°C, a pH of 9 and a precipitation temperature of 12°C, and the predicted yield was 11.036 ± 0.31%. The in vitro antioxidant assay demonstrated that MSPS had potential effects on scavenging and enhanced the reducing power of reactive oxygen species. The in vivo anti-ageing evaluation showed that MSPS significantly reduced the malonaldehyde (MDA) contents and total cholesterol (CHOL) levels, and remarkably improved the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in mice in response to D-galactose-induced ageing. Furthermore, the characteristic analysis of MSPS indicated a selenium content of 1.76 ± 0.10 mg/g at a concentration of 6 µg/mL in liquid media and a monosaccharide composition of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose at a molar ratio of 29:3:1:18.8:2.7. These results suggest that MSPS might be suitable for functional foods and natural drugs on preventing the ageing progress induced by toxic chemicals.

Antiproliferative Activities of Hot Water Extracts from Culinary-Medicinal Mushrooms, Ganoderma tsugae and Agrocybe cylindracea (Higher Basidiomycetes) on Cancer Cells.

Using anticancer agents to progress chemotherapy to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells is an effective means. Two medicinal mushrooms, Ganoderma tsugae and Agrocybe cylindracea, exhibited various physiological effects, and the antiproliferation effect on HL-60, Hep 3B, and C6 cells was studied. The viability of different cancer cells was decreased significantly by hot water extracts from different forms of G. tsugae and A. cylindracea. The hot water extracts from the fruit body, mycelium, and filtrate of A. cylindracea were less effective in inhibiting the antiproliferation of C6, Hep 3B, and HL-60 cells than were those from G. tsugae, as evidenced by their IC50 values. The IC50 values of G. tsugae on C6, Hep 3B, and HL-60 cells were 1.13, 2.73, and 2.60 mg/mL, respectively, whereas those of baby G. tsugae were 1.87, 2.63, and 3.12 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the filtrates of G. tsugae on C6 and Hep 3B cells were 2.81 and 2.80 mg/mL, respectively. The morphological transformation of 3 cancer cells was observed clearly, and the possible mechanism would be necrosis, apoptosis, or differentiation. Owing to the noticeable effect on antiproliferation of hot water extracts, especially those from G. tsugae, the extract could be of great potential to be used as an alternative cancer therapy.

Bioactive composition, antimicrobial activities and the influence of Agrocybe aegerita (Brig.) Sing on certain quorum-sensing-regulated functions and biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Agrocybe aegerita (Brig.) Sing is a basidiomycete, white rot fungus. Antimicrobial activities and the antiqourum effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa of an A. aegerita methanolic extract were investigated. The extract showed very good antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms in a dose dependent manner. Effects of the Sub-MIC, MIC and 2MIC of the A. aegerita methanolic extract regulated the virulence factors in the quorum sensing (QS) test, as well as biofilm formation on P. aeruginosa. Sub-inhibitory and inhibitory concentrations of the extract demonstrated the reduction of virulence factors such as pyocyanin production, twitching and swimming motility. The biofilm forming capability of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was also reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the methanolic extract was determined considering its phenolic composition. The methanolic extract of A. aegerita can be a very good source of bioactive substances. This research is of great importance due to the prevalence of drug-resistant microorganisms.

Efficacy of supplementation of selected medicinal mushrooms with inorganic selenium salts.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of supplementation with inorganic forms of selenium (Na2SeO4 and Na2SeO3) in concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.5 mM of three medicinal mushroom species: Agrocybe aegerita, Hericium erinaceus and Ganoderma lucidum. Tested mushroom species grew in Se additions of 0-0.6 mM (A. aegerita and H. erinaceus), while growth of G. lucidum bodies was observed for 0-0.8 mM. For the latter mushroom species, the total Se content was the highest. Content of Seorg was diverse; for control bodies it was the highest for G. lucidum (only organic forms were present), lower for A. aegerita (84% organic forms) and the lowest for H. erinaceus (56% organic forms). Accumulation of Se(IV) was generally significantly higher than Se(VI) for all tested mushroom species. There was no significant decrease of A. aegerita or G. lucidum biomass with the exception of G. lucidum bodies growing under 0.8 mM of Se species addition (15.51 ± 6.53 g). Biomass of H. erinaceus bodies was the highest under 0.2 (197.04 ± 8.73 g), control (191.80 ± 6.06 g) and 0.1 mM (185.04 ± 8.73 g) of both inorganic salts. The addition to the medium of Se salts brought about macroscopic changes in the fruiting bodies of the examined mushrooms. Concentrations exceeding 0.4 mM caused diminution of carpophores or even their total absence. In addition, colour changes of fruiting bodies were also recorded. At Se concentrations of 0.4 and 0.6 mM, A. aegerita fruiting bodies were distinctly lighter and those of H. erinaceus changed colour from purely white to white-pink.

Antitumor activity of the protein and small molecule component fractions from Agrocybe aegerita through enhancement of cytokine production.

A water soluble extract from the medicinal mushroom Agrocybe aegerita has been shown to stimulate splenocyte proliferation, cytotoxic activity, and tumor rejection effect in tumor-bearing mouse models. In the present study, the crude extract was separated into a protein component fraction (Yp), mainly containing lectins and serine proteinase, and a small molecule component fraction (Ys), mainly containing triethylene glycol, α-bisabolol, n-hexadecanoic acid, and so on. The antitumor activity of the fractions was investigated in a tumor-bearing BALB/c mouse model. Repeat administration of Yp and Ys significantly inhibited tumor growth (P<.001), but little toxicity was observed. Moreover, the protein fraction Yp performed better than Ys in both antitumor and lifespan-prolonging activity. The cytokine expression levels in serum and splenocytes from extract-treated mice were selectively screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the results showed that Yp upregulated the mRNA level of Th2 cytokine interleukin-10 (P<.01), and Ys increased the mRNA level of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (P<.01) and anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor-ß (P<.01). All these data suggest that Yp and Ys can inhibit tumor growth via different mechanisms, which promotes the understanding of antitumor properties of medicinal fungi.

A laccase with antiproliferative activity against tumor cells from an edible mushroom, white common Agrocybe cylindracea.

A laccase, with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity (IC(50)=12.7 µM) and antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells (IC(50)=5.6 µM) and MCF7 cells (IC(50)=6.5 µM), was purified from fresh fruiting bodies of the edible white common Agrocybe cylindracea mushroom. The laccase, which had a novel N-terminal sequence, displayed a molecular mass of 58 kDa within the range reported for most other mushroom laccases. The purification protocol entailed ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, SP-Sepharose, and Q-Sepharose and gel filtration on Superdex 75. The laccase was adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and Q-Sepharose, but unadsorbed on SP-Sepharose. Its optimum pH was pH 3-4 and its optimum temperature was 50°C. The activity of the isolated laccase differed from one substrate to another. The ranking was ABTS>N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine>hydroquinone>catechol>2-methylcatechol>pyrogallol.

Mycelial Propagation and Molecular Phylogenetic Relationships of Commercially Cultivated Agrocybe cylindracea based on ITS Sequences and RAPD

This study evaluated the optimal vegetative growth conditions and molecular phylogenetic relationships of eleven strains of Agrocybe cylindracea collected from different ecological regions of Korea, China and Taiwan. The optimal temperature and pH for mycelial growth were observed at 25degrees C and 6. Potato dextrose agar and Hennerberg were the favorable media for vegetative growth, whereas glucose tryptone was unfavorable. Dextrin, maltose, and fructose were the most effective carbon sources. The most suitable nitrogen sources were arginine and glycine, whereas methionine, alanine, histidine, and urea were least effective for the mycelial propagation of A. cylindracea. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA were amplified using PCR. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than that of ITS1, while the 5.8S sequences were identical. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS sequences ranged from 98 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using 20 arbitrary primers. Fifteen primers efficiently amplified the genomic DNA. The average number of polymorphic bands observed per primer was 3.8. The numbers of amplified bands varied based on the primers and strains, with polymorphic fragments ranging from 0.1 to 2.9 kb. The results of RAPD analysis were similar to the ITS region sequences. The results revealed that RAPD and ITS techniques were well suited for detecting the genetic diversity of all A. cylindracea strains tested.