The effect mechanism of ergosterol from the nutritional mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica in breast cancer cells: Protein expression modulation and metabolomic profiling using UHPLC-ESI-Q.

The ergosterol from mushrooms has gained significant ethnopharmacological importance in various cultures, including China, Japan, and Europe. This compound has been found to possess immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in the treatment of immune disorders. In this study, we focused on investigating the potential anticancer properties of ergosterol isolated from the edible mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica in breast cancer cell lines. The ergosterol was purified and identified using advanced analytical techniques such as ESI-MS and NMR. We conducted cell proliferation assays on 4 T1 breast cancer cells to assess the cytotoxic effects of ergosterol. Furthermore, we analyzed the transcription levels of BAX, caspase-7, BCL-2, STAT-3, and PARP proteins using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Additionally, we employed non-targeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to study the potential mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of ergosterol at the metabolomics level. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in cell viability and the induction of apoptosis upon treatment with ergosterol, especially at higher concentrations (P < 0.05). Moreover, ergosterol affected the expression of cancer-related genes, upregulating pro-apoptotic proteins such as BAX, caspase-7, and PARP, while downregulating the anti-apoptotic proteins BCL-2 and STAT-3 (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis confirmed these findings and provided further evidence of ergosterol's role in inducing apoptosis. Metabolomics analysis revealed substantial changes in pathways related to amino acid, antioxidant, and carbohydrate metabolism. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that ergosterol exhibits anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis and modulating metabolic pathways in breast cancer cells.

Herbal Textual Research on Lasiosphaera Calvatia in Famous Classical Formulas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

By consulting ancient materia medica， medical books， prescription books and modern literature， this paper systematically combed and reviewed the name， origin， scientific name evolution， producting area， quality evaluation， medicinal parts， harvesting and processing and traditional efficacy of Lasiosphaera Calvatia. The results show that Mabo was first recorded in Mingyi Bielu. Since then， all dynasties have taken Mabo as a legitimate name. Before the Song dynasty， only Calvatia lilacina was used as the original plant of Lasiosphaera Calvatia， which was expanded after the Song dynasty with the appearance of C. gigantea， Lasiosphaera fenzlii， Bovistella radicata and other varieties. Until modern times， there was an addition of Lycoperdon perlatum， L. pyriforme and other original plants of Lasiosphaera Calvatia. Since 1975， the original plant of Lasiosphaera Calvatia in various regulations and academic monographs has been basically uniform for C. lilacina， Lasiosphaera fenzlii and C. gigantea. Resource of the medicinal fungus was widely distributed in China and was mainly wild. From ancient times to the present， the medicinal parts of Lasiosphaera Calvatia are all fruiting body， which is harvested in summer and autumn， and its processing method was to take powder in ancient times， but to cut blocks in modern times. In recent times， its quality has been summarized as large， thin-skinned， intact， full， loose-bubbled and elastic. The medicinal efficacy has been developed from very good for all scores， and after the Ming and Qing dynasties， it is consistent with the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， with the efficacy of clearing the lung， promoting pharynx， relieving fever and hemostasis， mainly treating cough aphonia， throat obstruction and pharyngeal pain， vomiting blood， epistaxis， hemoptysis， and external treating sores and bleeding from cuts and wounds. Based on the results of herbal textual research， it is suggested that C. lilacina is the first choice for the origin of Lasiosphaera Calvatia involved in famous classical formulas， and it is processed into block or powder for medicine.

Bioactive Compounds of the Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica (Agaricomycetes): Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications-A Review.

The medicinal mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica has received much attention from biologists since the end of the last century due to its rich bioactive compounds and high efficiency against a wide range of chronic diseases. Many years ago, L. mongolica was used in traditional Chinese medicine. About 100 chemical components have been isolated and/or identified in L. mongolica, especially fruiting bodies. This mushroom is rich in polysaccharides, sterols, lectins, laccase, amino acids, and volatile compounds. The bioactive compounds from L. mongolica possess significant pharmacological activities such as antitumor, antiproliferative, antidiabetic, and hypotensive effects. However, some bioactive characteristics of this mushroom still need further investigation to elucidate the multiple biological and pharmacological uses. Furthermore, L. mongolica requires scientific proof regarding its use to enhance milk production and mammary gland differentiation. In this review, we summarize the pharmacological and therapeutic properties of L. mongolica and provide suggestions for future research on this medicinal mushroom.

Medicinal Mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica Imai Extracts Improve Mammary Gland Differentiation in Lactating Rats via Regulating Protein Expression.

Leucocalocybe mongolica is a known medicinal mushroom in China. It possesses many biological activities. This study investigated the effect of L. mongolica petroleum ether and water extracts (200, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg BW) on mammary gland differentiation during lactation. However, prolactin, growth hormone, progesterone, and estrogen levels were determined in serum by ELISA assay. Immunofluorescence, western blot, and real-time PCR were utilized to evaluate the expression levels of ß-casein, α-Lactalbumin, prolactin receptor, progesterone receptor, and STAT-5a. The immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the presence of steroid receptors. The results showed that petroleum ether and water extracts increased milk yield and milk content of calcium, total fat, total carbohydrate, and total protein. Prolactin and growth hormone levels were significantly upregulated in all treated groups compared with the control group. In contrast, progesterone and estrogen were downregulated. The high doses of petroleum ether and water extracts increased the expression levels of ß-Cas, α-Lactalb, PRLR, PR, and STAT-5a. The observation of histological sections showed that the extracts induced higher mammary gland differentiation than the control group. This study is the first to use mushrooms as nutritional supplements to improve milk production and mammary gland differentiation during lactation.

Antitumor effect and mechanism of different extracts of cultivated Phellinus vaninii on H22 tumor bearing mice / 生物工程学报

In order to explore the antitumor effect and mechanism of different extracts of cultivated Phellinus vaninii fruit body on H22 tumor bearing mice, 150 ICR mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, CTX group, P. vaninii water extract group, ethanol extract group, petroleum ether extract group and crude polysaccharide group. H22 liver cancer cells were used to establish a solid tumor model and the mice were sacrificed on the 10th day after administration. The spleen and thymus organ index and tumor inhibition rate were calculated, the serum levels of TNF-α, INF-γ, VEGF, and hematoxylin-eosin were detected, and the immunohistochemical staining method was used to observe the pathological changes of tumor tissues, while Western blotting was used to detect the expression of tumor-related proteins. The high-dose petroleum ether extract group showed the best tumor inhibition rate (73.21%), increased serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and VEGF, as well as significantly promoted tumor necrosis and ablation. The immunohistochemistry of the water extract group showed negative regulation, indicating an insignificant tumor suppression. Western blotting showed the apoptosis genes Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and pathway genes NF-κB and JAK were all highly expressed in each administration group compared with the model group, and their expression levels gradually decreased with increasing doses. In summary, the petroleum ether extract of P. vaninii fruit body showed a significant anti-tumor effect which is presumably mediated through the mitochondrial pathway. The metabolism of drug in the body induces activation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 apoptotic proteins by Bax, Bcl-2, and TNF, which further caused nuclear chromatin or DNA to condense or degrade, and subsequently destroy the normal proliferation of tumor cells, thereby inducing their apoptosis and inhibiting tumor growth.

Influence of Inonotus hispidus in hemorheology in rat model with blood stasis due to cold syndrome and analysis on spectral efficiency / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To explore the effects of the activating circulation to remove blood stasis through observingthe influence of Inonotus hispidus on hemorheology in the rat models with blood stasis due to cold syndrome..Methods:The rats were randomly divided into normal control group,blood stasis model group,positive control group,low and high doses ofInonotus hispidus (S1-S6) sample groups;there were 15 groups,and 12 rats were in each group.Except for normal control group,the rats in other groups were injected adrenaline hydrochloride and immersing in ice water to build the blood stasis due to cold syndrome rat models.The indexes of hemorheoloy of the rats were detected,and the HPLC spectrum-effect relationship was analyzed.Results:The yellow fruiting bodies (S3-S6) of Inonotus hispidus which were parasitic on the different trees significantly improved the hemorheological indexes in the rat models.Compared with model group,the blood viscosity and whole blood viscosity of the rats in high dose of yellow fruiting body of Inonotus hispidus group were decreased (P＜0.05).The black fruiting body of Inonotus hispidus showed the similar effect to the yellow fruiting body,but the hemorheological indexes of the rats in black fruiting body of Inonotus hispidus group had no significant changes compared with model group (P ＞ 0.05).The results of the spectrum-effect showed that the corresponding components of 11 chromatographic peaks were closely correlated with the changes of plasma viscosity,and the correlation coefficient ＞ 0.8.Through identification,four compounds of them were named phellibaumin A,phelligridin C (cis),phelligridin C (trans),phelligridin D and 3'4'-dihydroxy-5-[(11-hydroxyphenyl)-6,7-vinyl]-3,5-dioxa-fluoren-5-one.Conclusion:The yellow fruiting bodies of Inonotus hispidus which are parasitic on the different trees can decrease the blood viscosity and whole blood viscosity and have the effects of activating the circulation to remove blood stasis.

A Research on the Anti-tumor Effects of Acid-Soluble Polysaccharides from Gloeostereum incamatum in H22 Tumor Bearing Mice / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study aimed at exploring the inhibitory effect behind its mechanism on acid-soluble polysaccharides from G.incamatum in transplanted H22 tumor mice.Different indices,including tumor inhibitory rate,organ index of liver,thymus and spleen,IL-2,IFN-γ and TNF-α were detected for the evaluation of anti-tumor effects and the mechanism.Furthermore,HE staining and TUNEL assay were adopted to investigate the pathological changes of tumor tissue and cell apoptosis,respectively.As a result,the three dose groups of acidsoluble polysaccharides of G.incamatum successfully inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells,while organ indexes of spleen and thymus were improved and serum IL-2,IFN-γ and TNF-α increased.H&E staining and TUNEL assay showed the polysaccharides induced cell apoptosis,playing a significant role in the inhibition of tumor growth.In conclusion,acid-soluble polysaccharides of G.incamatum possessed significant anti-tumor effects,behind which the mechanism could be related to the regulation of immune regulation,cell apoptosis,and the protection of liver function.

An antitumor component from Fomitiporia ellipsoidea.

A natural furan derivative was isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruit bodies of Fomitiporia ellipsoidea. Its chemical structure was elucidated as methyl 3,5-dioxo- 1,3,5,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-c:4,5-c']difuran-4-carboxylate by means of extensive NMR and MS data analysis, and named as fomitiporiaester A (1). Compound 1 showed significant antitumor activity to hepatoma H(22) in vivo, and the inhibition rates were 42.94%, 49.17%, and 58.15% at concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxic activities against the human hepatoblastoma (HepG-2) and human oophoroma (Skov 3) cell lines with IC(50) values of more than 100 µM.