Enhanced Yield of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities in Four Fermented Beans of Phellinus linteus Strains (Agaricomycetes) by Solid-State Fermentation.

Phellinus linteus is a famous medicinal mushroom which exhibits various biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of solid-state fermentation by Ph. linteus on the yield of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of beans. Four bean substrates were prepared and inoculated with inoculum of three strains of Ph. linteus, respectively. During the cultivation, the harvested samples were dried, grounded, extracted, and determined the contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. The results indicated that the mung bean fermented by Ph. linteus 04 had the highest polysaccharide content (98.8 mg/g). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were in fermented soybeans by Ph. linteus 03 (15.03 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 63.24 mg rutin equivalents/g, respectively). The 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities of hot water extracts were higher than those of ethanolic extracts for fermented beans by three Ph. linteus strains. However, the superoxide anion radical scavenging ability of ethanolic extracts was higher than those of hot water extracts in the fermented beans of the three strains. The ferrous ion (Fe2+)-chelating abilities of hot water extracts were higher than those of ethanolic extracts in fermented beans by Ph. linteus 03 and 04. In contrast, ethanolic extracts were higher than hot water extracts in fermented beans by Ph. linteus 06. Overall, these results indicate that the fermentation by Ph. linteus strains increased the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of four beans.

Stratified assessment of an FDA-cleared deep learning algorithm for automated detection and contouring of metastatic brain tumors in stereotactic radiosurgery.

PURPOSE: Artificial intelligence-based tools can be leveraged to improve detection and segmentation of brain metastases for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). VBrain by Vysioneer Inc. is a deep learning algorithm with recent FDA clearance to assist in brain tumor contouring. We aimed to assess the performance of this tool by various demographic and clinical characteristics among patients with brain metastases treated with SRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomly selected 100 patients with brain metastases who underwent initial SRS on the CyberKnife from 2017 to 2020 at a single institution. Cases with resection cavities were excluded from the analysis. Computed tomography (CT) and axial T1-weighted post-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) image data were extracted for each patient and uploaded to VBrain. A brain metastasis was considered "detected" when the VBrain- "predicted" contours overlapped with the corresponding physician contours ("ground-truth" contours). We evaluated performance of VBrain against ground-truth contours using the following metrics: lesion-wise Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), lesion-wise average Hausdorff distance (AVD), false positive count (FP), and lesion-wise sensitivity (%). Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to assess the relationships between patient characteristics including sex, race, primary histology, age, and size and number of brain metastases, and performance metrics such as DSC, AVD, FP, and sensitivity. RESULTS: We analyzed 100 patients with 435 intact brain metastases treated with SRS. Our cohort consisted of patients with a median number of 2 brain metastases (range: 1 to 52), median age of 69 (range: 19 to 91), and 50% male and 50% female patients. The primary site breakdown was 56% lung, 10% melanoma, 9% breast, 8% gynecological, 5% renal, 4% gastrointestinal, 2% sarcoma, and 6% other, while the race breakdown was 60% White, 18% Asian, 3% Black/African American, 2% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 17% other/unknown/not reported. The median tumor size was 0.112 c.c. (range: 0.010-26.475 c.c.). We found mean lesion-wise DSC to be 0.723, mean lesion-wise AVD to be 7.34% of lesion size (0.704 mm), mean FP count to be 0.72 tumors per case, and lesion-wise sensitivity to be 89.30% for all lesions. Moreover, mean sensitivity was found to be 99.07%, 97.59%, and 96.23% for lesions with diameter equal to and greater than 10 mm, 7.5 mm, and 5 mm, respectively. No other significant differences in performance metrics were observed across demographic or clinical characteristic groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, a commercial deep learning algorithm showed promising results in segmenting brain metastases, with 96.23% sensitivity for metastases with diameters of 5 mm or higher. As the software is an assistive AI, future work of VBrain integration into the clinical workflow can provide further clinical and research insights.

Real-World Data on Comparison of Lipid-Lowering Effects between Alirocumab and Evolocumab in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Even though the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, alirocumab and evolocumab, have been approved to reduce plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients, real-world data showing comparisons of the lipid-lowering effects between alirocumab and evolocumab are scarce because of the low prescription rates of PCSK9 inhibitors in clinical practice. Methods: Between Feb 2018 and Sep 2021, 22 patients who received alirocumab and 22 patients who received evolocumab at a tertiary medical center were enrolled. The patients' baseline characteristics, prescribed medications, plasma LDL-C levels, and percentages of reduction in LDL-C were compared between alirocumab users and evolocumab users. Results: The alirocumab users more frequently received ezetimibe treatment (72.7% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.03) and had higher baseline LDL-C (165.6 ± 63.2 mg/dL vs. 130.8 ± 56.3 mg/dL, p = 0.04) compared with the evolocumab users. At 6 months of follow-up, the plasma LDL-C levels in the alirocumab users were similar to those in the evolocumab users (79.3 ± 64.0 mg/dL vs. 63.5 ± 44.1 mg/dL, p = 0.48). Additionally, the percentages of LDL-C reduction following treatment were similar between the alirocumab users and evolocumab users (-47.0% ± 45.0% vs. -49.8 ± 24.9%, p = 0.66). Conclusions: The LDL-C lowering effects of alirocumab are similar to those of evolocumab in clinical practice.

Local control of brain metastases with osimertinib alone in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Although osimertinib has excellent intracranial activity in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with exon 19 deletion or L858R EGFR alterations, measures of local control of brain metastases are less well-reported. We describe lesion-level outcomes of brain metastases treated with osimertinib alone. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC with untreated brain metastasis measuring ≥ 5 mm at the time of initiating osimertinib. Cumulative incidence of local recurrence in brain (LRiB) was calculated with death as a competing risk, and univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with LRiB. RESULTS: We included 284 brain metastases from 37 patients. Median follow-up was 20.1 months. On initial MRI after starting osimertinib, patient-level response was complete response (CR) in 11 (15%), partial response (PR) in 33 (45%), stable disease (SD) in 18 (25%) and progressive disease (PD) in 11 (15%). The 1-year cumulative incidence of LRiB was 14% (95% CI 9.9-17.9) and was significantly different in patients with a CR (0%), PR (4%), and SD (11%; p = 0.02). Uncontrolled primary tumor (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.78, 95% CI 1.87-7.66; p < 0.001), increasing number of prior systemic therapies (aHR 2.12, 95% CI 1.49-3.04; p < 0.001), and higher ECOG score (aHR 7.8, 95% CI 1.99-31.81; p = 0.003) were associated with LRiB. CONCLUSIONS: Although 1-year cumulative incidence of LRiB is < 4% with a CR or PR, 1-year cumulative incidence of LRiB is over 10% for patients with less than a PR to osimertinib on initial MRI. These patients should be followed closely for need for additional treatment such as stereotactic radiosurgery.

Optimal Liquid Inoculum Conditions and Grain Medium Enhanced Hispidin Production by Species of Genus Phellinus (Agaricomycetes) in Solid-State Fermentation.

This study aimed 1) to screen a high hispidin production strain from 12 strains of genus Phellinus and 2) to evaluate the effects of liquid inoculum conditions and grain medium on this strain's hispidin production levels after solid-state fermentation. The results showed that Ph. linteus 04 led to the highest hispidin production; this strain was then selected to elucidate the optimal liquid inoculum conditions and grain medium for hispidin production. Various liquid inoculum conditions were evaluated, and the highest hispidin yield, specific productivity of hispidin, and total content of hispidin were found to be optimal at 1 week of liquid inoculum culture time, cultured with potato dextrose broth, and using a 10% inoculum rate, with each condition resulting in 0.350, 0.325, and 0.328 mg/g dry weight of mycelium, 0.352, 0.251, and 0.249 µg/mg of specific productivity per week, and 57.90, 60.23, and 61.77 mg/kg dry weight of brown rice medium, respectively. These liquid inoculum conditions were then used to determine the appropriate grain medium for hispidin production. The highest hispidin yield and total content of hispidin were observed in pearl barley (1.107 mg/g dry weight of mycelium and 199.76 mg/kg dry weight of pearl barley), which led to results that were 4.73-fold and 5.35-fold higher than those of the control (brown rice medium). Overall, this study shows that Ph. linteus hispidin production can be enhanced by solid-state fermentation using optimal liquid inoculum conditions and the appropriate grain medium.

TNFα-mediated necroptosis in brain endothelial cells as a potential mechanism of increased seizure susceptibility in mice following systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation is a potent contributor to increased seizure susceptibility. However, information regarding the effects of systemic inflammation on cerebral vascular integrity that influence neuron excitability is scarce. Necroptosis is closely associated with inflammation in various neurological diseases. In this study, necroptosis was hypothesized to be involved in the mechanism underlying sepsis-associated neuronal excitability in the cerebrovascular components (e.g., endothelia cells). METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce systemic inflammation. Kainic acid intraperitoneal injection was used to measure the susceptibility of the mice to seizure. The pharmacological inhibitors C87 and GSK872 were used to block the signaling of TNFα receptors and necroptosis. In order to determine the features of the sepsis-associated response in the cerebral vasculature and CNS, brain tissues of mice were obtained for assays of the necroptosis-related protein expression, and for immunofluorescence staining to identify morphological changes in the endothelia and glia. In addition, microdialysis assay was used to assess the changes in extracellular potassium and glutamate levels in the brain. RESULTS: Some noteworthy findings, such as increased seizure susceptibility and brain endothelial necroptosis, Kir4.1 dysfunction, and microglia activation were observed in mice following LPS injection. C87 treatment, a TNFα receptor inhibitor, showed considerable attenuation of increased kainic acid-induced seizure susceptibility, endothelial cell necroptosis, microglia activation and restoration of Kir4.1 protein expression in LPS-treated mice. Treatment with GSK872, a RIP3 inhibitor, such as C87, showed similar effects on these changes following LPS injection. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed that TNFα-mediated necroptosis induced cerebrovascular endothelial damage, neuroinflammation and astrocyte Kir4.1 dysregulation, which may coalesce to contribute to the increased seizure susceptibility in LPS-treated mice. Pharmacologic inhibition targeting this necroptosis pathway may provide a promising therapeutic approach to the reduction of sepsis-associated brain endothelia cell injury, astrocyte ion channel dysfunction, and subsequent neuronal excitability.

Management of Patients with Type V Hyperlipoproteinemia: An Uncommon Phenotype of Dyslipidemia with Chylomicronemia and Severe Hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) remains a risk-enhancing factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We aimed to report real-world data on the management of patients with type V hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP5), an uncommon phenotype of dyslipidemia characterized by fasting chylomicronemia and severe HTG. Between July 2018 and May 2021, 90 patients with HTG, including 83 patients with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP4) and 7 patients with HLP5, were identified by plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) and lipoprotein electrophoresis. Patients with HLP5 were younger, had higher total cholesterol (TC) (264.9 ± 26.7 mg/dL vs. 183.9 ± 26.1 mg/dL; p < 0.01) and higher triglyceride (TG) (1296.7 ± 380.5 mg/dL vs. 247.6 ± 96.1 mg/dL; p < 0.01), and had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (30.6 ± 4.8 mg/dL vs. 40.5 ± 8.7 mg/dL; p < 0.01) and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (62.9 ± 16.4 vs. 103.0 ± 21.1 mg/dL; p < 0.01) compared with patients with HLP4. Despite an aggressive use of statin and fenofibrate with greater reductions in TG (-65.9 ± 13.7% vs. -27.9 ± 30.5%; p < 0.01) following 6 months of treatment, patients with HLP5 had persistent HTG (440.1 ± 239.0 mg/dL vs. 173.9 ± 94.8 mg/dL; p < 0.01) and an increase in LDL-C (28.3 ± 57.2% vs. -19.5 ± 32.0%; p < 0.01) compared with patients with HLP4. Our findings highlight that the lack of novel TG-lowering medications and management guidelines remains an unmet medical need in patients with HLP5. Closely monitoring lipid profiles, full assessment of individual's risk of cardiovascular disease, and emphasis on medication adherence are of clinical importance.

Randomized multi-reader evaluation of automated detection and segmentation of brain tumors in stereotactic radiosurgery with deep neural networks.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a validated treatment for brain tumors, requires accurate tumor contouring. This manual segmentation process is time-consuming and prone to substantial inter-practitioner variability. Artificial intelligence (AI) with deep neural networks have increasingly been proposed for use in lesion detection and segmentation but have seldom been validated in a clinical setting. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, cross-modal, multi-reader, multispecialty, multi-case study to evaluate the impact of AI assistance on brain tumor SRS. A state-of-the-art auto-contouring algorithm built on multi-modality imaging and ensemble neural networks was integrated into the clinical workflow. Nine medical professionals contoured the same case series in two reader modes (assisted or unassisted) with a memory washout period of 6 weeks between each section. The case series consisted of 10 algorithm-unseen cases, including five cases of brain metastases, three of meningiomas, and two of acoustic neuromas. Among the nine readers, three experienced experts determined the ground truths of tumor contours. RESULTS: With the AI assistance, the inter-reader agreement significantly increased (Dice similarity coefficient [DSC] from 0.86 to 0.90, P < 0.001). Algorithm-assisted physicians demonstrated a higher sensitivity for lesion detection than unassisted physicians (91.3% vs 82.6%, P = .030). AI assistance improved contouring accuracy, with an average increase in DSC of 0.028, especially for physicians with less SRS experience (average DSC from 0.847 to 0.865, P = .002). In addition, AI assistance improved efficiency with a median of 30.8% time-saving. Less-experienced clinicians gained prominent improvement on contouring accuracy but less benefit in reduction of working hours. By contrast, SRS specialists had a relatively minor advantage in DSC, but greater time-saving with the aid of AI. CONCLUSIONS: Deep learning neural networks can be optimally utilized to improve accuracy and efficiency for the clinical workflow in brain tumor SRS.

Influences of carbon and nitrogen source addition, water content, and initial pH of grain medium on hispidin production of Phellinus linteus by solid-state fermentation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of certain grain medium conditions, such as carbon and nitrogen source addition, water content, and initial pH, on the hispidin production of Phellinus linteus using solid-state fermentation. The results showed that the highest hispidin yield, specific productivity of hispidin, and total content of hispidin were associated with sucrose and malt extract addition, 55% water content, and an initial pH of 5.5, which resulted in 0.290, 0.233, 0.301, and 0.296 mg/g dry weight of mycelium; 0.261, 0.191, 0.257, and 0.227 µg/mg week-1 specific productivity; and 46.01, 40.67, 58.85, and 55.06 mg/kg dry weight brown rice medium, respectively. Additionally, two combinations of culture conditions with pearl barley and black rice medium were tested for hispidin production. The highest hispidin yield, specific productivity of hispidin, and total hispidin content for pearl barley medium fermented using P. linteus were 3.88-fold, 4.86-fold, and 3.60-fold higher than those for the control (brown rice medium), respectively. Overall, this study shows that P. linteus hispidin production can be enhanced using solid-state fermentation, with optimal medium conditions.

Effect of the King Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Pleurotus eryngii (Agaricomycetes) Basidiocarps Powder to Ameliorate Memory and Learning Deficit in Ability in Aß-Induced Alzheimer's Disease C57BL/6J Mice Model.

One of the major causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is oxidative stress, which accelerates ß-amyloid peptide (AP) plaque and neurofibrillary tangle accumulation in the brain. Pleurotus eryngii is known to be rich in antioxidants, including ergothioneine, adenosine, and polyphenol, which can reduce oxidative stress-related aging. The aim of this study was to investigate the proximate and functional composition of P. eryngii, and evaluate the cognitive effects of low (LPE), medium (MPE), and high (HPE) P. eryngii dosages in an Aß-induced Alzheimer's disease C57BL/6J mouse model. Mice fed P. eryngii for six weeks showed no adverse effects on body weight gain, food intake efficiency, serum biochemical parameters, and liver and kidney histopathological features. The relative brain weight was significantly lower in Aß-injected mice (p < 0.05). Further, P. eryngii was shown to delay brain atrophy. Reference memory behavioral tasks showed that LPE, MPE, and HPE significantly decreased escape latency (49-85%) and distance (53-69%, p < 0.05). Probe and T-maze tasks showed that P. eryngii potently ameliorated memory deficit in mice. An AD pathology index analysis showed that P. eryngii significantly decreased levels of brain phosphorylated τ-protein, Aß plaque deposition, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl (p < 0.05). P. eryngii may therefore promote memory and learning capacity in an Aß-induced AD mouse model.

Biological efficiency and nutritional value of the culinary-medicinal mushroom Auricularia cultivated on a sawdust basal substrate supplement with different proportions of grass plants.

Auricularia polytricha was cultivated on a sawdust basal substrate supplemented with different proportions (30%, 45%, and 60%, respectively) of stalks of three grass plants, i.e., Panicum repens (PRS), Pennisetum purpureum (PPS), and Zea mays (ZMS), to determine the most effective substrate. The mycelial growth rate, total colonization time, days to primordial formation, biological efficiency and chemical composition of fruiting bodies were evaluated. The results indicated that 30PPS was the best substrate for mycelial growth of A. polytricha, with a corresponding total colonization period of 32.0 days. With the exception of 30PPS, the total biological efficiency of all of the substrates containing P. repens stalk, P. purpureum stalk and Z. mays stalk was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control. The most suitable substrate with a high biological efficiency was 60PRS (148.12%), followed by 30ZMS (145.05%), 45ZMS (144.15%) and 30PRS (136.68%). The nutrient values of fruiting bodies were affected by different substrates. The ash contents of A. polytricha cultivated on a substrate containing Z. mays stalk were higher than that of the control; meanwhile, the protein contents of mushroom cultivated on a substrate containing P. repens stalk (except substrate 45PRS) were higher than that of the control. The biological efficiency of the substrates was tested, and according to the results, it is feasible to use the stalks of P. repens and Z. mays on partially replaced sawdust to cultivate A. polytricha.

Effect of Different Proportions of Agrowaste on Cultivation Yield and Nutritional Composition of the Culinary-Medicinal Jelly Mushroom Auricularia polytricha (Higher Basidiomycetes).

In this study, Auricularia polytricha was cultivated on a sawdust basal substrate supplemented with different proportions (30%, 45%, and 60%, respectively) of agrowastes-sugarcane bagasse (SB), rice straw (RS), and rice husk (RH)-to evaluate the alternative substrates. The mycelial growth rate, total colonization time, time to first primordia, biological efficiency, and chemical composition of the fruiting bodies were determined. Results indicated that the 60% SB substrate was the best substrate for mycelial growth of A. polytricha, with a corresponding total colonization period of 35.2 days, followed by the control (35.5 days) and 45% SB (36.2 days) substrates. The most suitable substrate with a high biological efficiency was 60% RS substrate (159.14%), followed by the 45% SB (128.45%), and 20% RH (124.47%) substrates. The nutrient values of fruiting bodies showed the largest amounts of ash, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and energy cultivated on 60% SB, 60% SB, 30% SB, 30% RH, and 30% RH/the control substrates, respectively. The results indicated that 60% RS was an appropriate substrate for A. polytricha cultivation.

Various grain substrates for the production of fruiting bodies and bioactive compounds of the medicinal caterpillar mushroom, Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes).

In this study, several grains such as brown rice (Br), plumule rice (Pr), wheat (W) and pearl barley (Pb) supplemented with 1% (w/w) peptone (P), yeast extract (Ye), ammonia sulfate (As), and monosodium glutamate (Mg) as a nitrogen source, respectively, were used to produce fruiting bodies and bioactive compounds of two strains of Cordyceps militaris. Among these grain substrates, the substrate most suitable to mycelial growth was Pb+Ye for C. militaris H and L. The mushroom strains colonized this substrate in 12.8 and 12.6 days, respectively. For C. militaris L, the fewest days were required for primordial initiation on Br+Ye and Pr+P substrates. The highest yield and biological efficiency was observed with Pb substrate (25.16 g/bottle and 87.36%) and Br+P substrate (21.84 g/bottle and 75.83%) for C. militaris H and L, respectively. In the fruiting bodies of C. militaris H, the highest cordycepin content was cultivated on W+Mg substrate (25.07 mg/g), the highest mannitol content was cultivated with Pr+Mg (153.21 mg/g) and Pr (151.65 mg/g) substrates, and the highest adenosine content was cultivated with Pr+Ye (0.94 mg/g) and Pb+Ye (0.90 mg/g) substrates. In the fruiting bodies of C. militaris L, the highest cordycepin content was cultivated with W+Mg substrate (22.14 mg/g); the highest mannitol content was cultivated with Pb substrate (189.33 mg/g); and the highest adenosine content was cultivated with Pb+Ye substrate (0.71 mg/g).

Antioxidant properties of fruiting bodies, mycelia, and fermented products of the culinary-medicinal king oyster mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii (higher Basidiomycetes), with high ergothioneine content.

The culinary-medicinal king oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii is known to contain ergothioneine, and its products, including fruiting bodies, mycelia, and solid-state fermented products (adlay and buckwheat), were prepared to study their antioxidant properties. Fruiting bodies, regular and Hi-Ergo mycelia, and fermented products contained 2.05, 1.68, 5.76, 0.79-0.80 mg/g of ergothioneine, respectively. On the basis of the results obtained, P. eryngii products had effective antioxidant activity, reducing power, and scavenging ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals and chelating ability on ferrous ions. Hi-Ergo mycelia was the most effective in the first 3 antioxidant properties in addition to its ergothioneine content. In addition, fruiting bodies were more effective in all antioxidant properties than regular mycelia. For ethanolic and hot water extracts from mycelia and fruiting bodies, the correlation coefficients between total phenol contents and each antioxidant attribute were 0.483-0.921. Overall, P. eryngii products with high amounts of ergothioneine could be used beneficially as a functional food.

Submerged cultivation of mycelium with high ergothioneine content from the culinary-medicinal king oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii (higher Basidiomycetes) and its composition.

The culinary-medicinal king oyster mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii, was used to produce mycelia with high ergothioneine content using a one-factor-at-a-time method. The optimal culture conditions for mycelia harvested at day 14 were 25°C, 10% inoculation rate, 2% glucose, 0.5% yeast extract, and no adjustment to the initial pH value. With histidine or amino acid mix added, biomasses and the ergothioneine content of mycelia were higher than those of the control. The ergothioneine content of mycelia harvested at days 16-20 were higher than that of mycelia harvested at day 14. In addition, the ergothioneine content of mycelia from the fermentor (5.84-5.76 mg/g) was much higher than that of mycelia from the shaken flask (4.93-5.04 mg/g). Mycelia with high ergothioneine content showed a profile of proximate composition similar to that of regular mycelia but lost its characteristic umami taste. Overall, mycelia high in ergothioneine could be prepared by optimal culture conditions, the addition of precursors, prolonged harvest, and aeration in the fermentor.

Preparation of culinary-medicinal king oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii-fermented products with high ergothioneine content and their taste quality.

Pleurotus eryngii (DC. : Fr.) Ouel. was used in solid-state fermentation to develop novel mushroom products with a high amount of ergothioneine. The correlation coefficients between ergothioneine content and biomass were 0.8878 and 0.9206 for fermented adlay and buckwheat, respectively. Using optimal conditions, Pleurotus-fermented adlay and buckwheat (PFA and PFB) with the ergothioneine contents of 795.5 and 786.1 mg/ kg, respectively, were prepared. However, mycelia contained the highest ergothioneine content of 1514.6 mg/kg. As a result of SSF by P. eryngii, PFA and PFB contained more taste components than adlay and buckwheat, as evidenced by higher contents of total sugars and polyols, total free amino acids and monosodium glutamate-like components, and total and flavor 5'-nucleotides. In addition, PFB and buckwheat showed comparable equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values, whereas PFA showed a higher EUC value than adlay. Overall, Pleurotus-fermented products with a high amount of ergothioneine will be a novel functional food.

Preparation of Chaga medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus-fermented rice using solid-state fermentation and its taste quality and antioxidant property.

Chaga medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Pilat, was inoculated into cooked embryo rice and the mycelial growth in I. obliquus-fermented embryo rice (IER) was monitored. Besides, nonvolatile taste components and antioxidant properties of fruiting bodies, mycelia, IER, and embryo rice were studied. The optimal conditions for mycelial growth were determined to be: 30°C, an inoculation rate of 1 mL/15 g, water supplementation of 60%, and no extra nitrogen source added. IER showed similar proximate composition to embryo rice but contained a substantial amount of ergothioneine (101 mg/kg dry weight). IER contained higher amounts of soluble sugars and polyols, and umami taste components, including monosodium glutamate (MSG)-like components and flavor 5'-nucleotides, than embryo rice. Besides, IER showed a second level of equivalent umami concentrations (223.73 g MSG/100 g). Fruiting bodies did not contain umami components but showed the most effective antioxidant properties. Although some of EC50 values of IER were less than those of mycelia and embryo rice, IER still showed effective antioxidant properties. Based on the results obtained, IER will be a novel functional food.

Nonvolatile taste components of culinary-medicinal maitake mushroom, Grifola frondosa (Dicks.:Fr.) S.F. Gray.

Culinary-medicinal maitake mushroom Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray mycelium was inoculated into wheat, a new product was formed after fungal fermentation, and its nonvolatile taste components were studied. Contents of crude ash, fat, fiber, and protein were higher in fruit bodies and mycelia, whereas carbohydrate contents were higher in the uninoculated and fermented wheat. Contents of total soluble sugars and polyols were 234.06, 111.70, 88.58, and 28.83 mg/g for fermented wheat, fruiting bodies, mycelia, and wheat, respectively. Contents of total free amino acids were in the descending order of mycelia > fermented wheat > fruiting bodies > wheat. Contents of total 5'-nucleotides were in the descending order: fruiting bodies > mycelia > fermented wheat > wheat. Based on the results obtained, fruiting bodies and mycelia possessed highly intense umami taste. Overall, as a result of solid-state fermentation, fermented wheat contained more taste components and a higher equivalent umami concentration than wheat did.

Preparation of culinary-medicinal maitake mushroom, Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray (Aphyllophoromycetideae)-fermented wheat and its antioxidant properties.

The optimization of solid-state fermentation conditions for mycelial growth in wheat by culinary-medicinal maitake mushroom, Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray was studied. The results from the center of the design analysis showed that the recommended optimal conditions for carbon, nitrogen sources, and temperature were 19 mg lactose/g, 2.0 mg malt extract/g, and 30 degrees C, respectively. Under these conditions, the mycelial biomass of 533.1 mg/g was obtained in fermented wheat, comparable to that (545.7 mg/g) obtained using the one-factor-at-a-time method. Based on the results obtained, EC50 values of ethanolic and hot water extracts from fermented wheat were 1.13-15.27 mg/mL, indicating that fermented wheat was effective in antioxidant activity, reducing power, scavenging ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, and chelating ability on ferrous ions. Total phenol contents of both extracts were 13.35 and 23.01 mg/g, respectively. Accordingly, the information obtained would be applicable for the cultivation and consumption of G. frondosa-fermented wheat to provide its beneficial health effects.