Evaluation of nutraceutical components and antioxidant potential of north Indian wild culinary-medicinal Termitophilous mushrooms.

Mushrooms have long been treated as a delicacy. Nowadays, however, many researchers consider them to be nutraceutical foods. The objective of this study was to determine the nutraceutical components in 7 edible species of Termitomyces (T. microcarpus, T. radicatus, T. badius, T. medius, T. heimii, T. striatus, and T. mammiformis) collected from different localities in North India during the monsoon season; their antioxidant properties also were determined by DPPH free radical scavenging ability and reducing power ability. The various nutraceutical components evaluated include phenolics (15.0-25.85 mg/g), flavonoids (1.38-2.02 mg/g), ascorbic acid (0.018-0.15 mg/g), ß-carotene (0.11-0.27 µg/g), and lycopene (0.03-0.19 µg/g).

Nutritional and neutraceutical composition of five wild culinary-medicinal species of genus Pleurotus (higher Basidiomycetes) from northwest India.

Five wild culinary-medicinal species of genus Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Kumm. (P. floridanus Singer, P. pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél., P. sapidus Quél., P. cystidiosus O.K. Miller, and P. sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer), collected from different localities of Northwest India, were studied for their nutritional and nutraceutical composition. Composition analysis of nutrients involved determining proteins, fats, ash, fiber, and carbohydrates using standard biochemical techniques. Minerals were estimated by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and toxic metals were determined by the Reinsch test method. The analysis of nutraceuticals included determination of sugars by high-performance liquid chromatography, fatty acids by gas chromatography, and antioxidants such as ß-carotene, lycopene, and total phenolic compounds with methanolic extract using a colorimetric assay. In the samples analyzed, carbohydrates dominated over protein and other macronutrients. Carbohydrates ranged from 85.86 to 88.38%, protein 0.98 to 2.17%, crude fat 0.62 to 0.84%, crude fibers 2.76 to 3.12%, and ash content 1.03 to 2.20%. Macro- and microminerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, and iron) also were found in substantial amount, whereas toxic metals (lead, silver, arsenic, mercury, and antimony) were not detected. Three main sugars-sucrose (0.338-2.011%), glucose (0.553-0.791%), and xylose (0.01%)-were detected. Among fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty (37.17-68.29%) acids were documented in a higher proportion than saturated fatty acids (26.07-47.77%). In terms of antioxidant composition, all species contained ascorbic acid, phenols, carotene, and lycopene. Ascorbic acid content ranged from 0.46 to 0.49 mg/100 g, total phenolic compounds ranged from 6.76 to 16.92 mg/100 g of gallic acid, ß-carotene ranged from 0.134 to 0.221 µg/100 g, and lycopene from 0.055 to 0 .075 µg/100 g.

Nutritional and sociobiological aspects of culinary-medicinal Termitophilous mushrooms from North India.

The present paper aims to investigate the culinary-medicinal potential, chemical composition, and sociobiological aspects of seven edible species of genus Termitomyces (T. microcarpus, T. radicatus, T. badius, T. medius, T. heimii, T. striatus, and T. mammiformis) collected from different localities of North India during the monsoon season. The mushrooms were analyzed for their nutritional components (proteins, carbohydrates, crude fat, crude fibers, moisture content, ash content, and mineral elements) following standard biochemical techniques. The nutritional composition varied from species to species in Termitomyces. The highest protein was recorded in T. medius (46.2%) on a dry weight basis, followed by T. badius (44%), while the carbohydrate was maximum in T. striatus (60.27%), followed by T. mammiformis (47.65%). The Fe content was highest in T. mammiformis (6.73 mg/g) on a dry weight basis, while Ca and Mg were highest in T. medius (2.04 and 3.30 mg/g, respectively). The paper also includes information about local names and different types of recipes prepared by the local people in North India.

Relationship Between Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and Sjögren's Syndrome: Central Nervous System Extraglandular Disease or Unrelated, Co-Occurring Autoimmunity?

OBJECTIVE: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients may be affected by the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a severe demyelinating syndrome associated with anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies (anti-AQP-4 antibodies). The relationship between SS and NMOSD has been a sustained focus of investigation. Among SS patients, anti-AQP-4 antibodies have been detected exclusively in those with NMOSD. It has therefore been speculated that NMOSD is not a neurologic complication of SS. However, such studies evaluated small numbers of SS patients, often mixed with other inflammatory disorders. METHODS: We compared frequencies of anti-AQP-4 and SS-associated antibodies in 109 SS patients, including 11 with NMOSD, 8 with non-NMOSD demyelinating syndromes, and 90 without demyelinating syndromes. RESULTS: When assessed using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) assay, anti-AQP-4 antibodies were seen exclusively in those SS patients with NMOSD (72.7%), but not in SS patients without NMOSD (P < 0.01). In contrast, anti-Ro 52, anti-Ro 60, and other autoantibodies were not more prevalent in SS patients with NMOSD versus those without. Anti-AQP-4 antibodies were detected more frequently among NMOSD patients by FACS assay than with a commercial immunohistochemical assay (72.7% versus 54.5%), despite assessment after a more prolonged period of immunosuppressive therapy (median 38 months versus 5 months; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The syndrome-specificity of anti-AQP-4 antibodies, along with an otherwise similar antibody profile in SS NMOSD patients, indicates that NMOSD is not a direct central nervous system manifestation of SS. Anti-AQP-4 antibodies can persist and be refractory to prolonged immunosuppressive therapy.

Taxonomy and compositional analysis of two new for science medicinal mushroom taxa from India.

Taxonomy and compositional evaluation of two new medicinal and edible varieties, Lentinus squarrosulus var. mangiferae and Pleurotus pulmonarius var. indicus, have been detailed in the present paper. Two new varieties were taxonomically identified by morphological, microscopical and ITS-region sequencing. Composition of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, ash content, minerals, fibers, ascorbic acid, phenolics, ß-carotene, and lycopene and alkaloids was analyzed for these varieties.