Protection against Gut Inflammation and Sepsis in Mice by the Autodigested Product of the Lingzhi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lingzhi (Agaricomycetes).

Ganoderma lingzhi (reishi) (GL) is a widely used medicinal mushroom in the treatment of several diseases, including metabolic syndrome and cancer. We recently performed autodigestion of GL and found enhanced release of hypotensive peptides and immunomodulating beta-1,3-glucan. In the present study, we examined the protective effects of G. lingzhi and its autodigested product (AD-GL) against gut inflammation and endogenous sepsis induced in mice by the oral administration of indomethacin (IND). Gut inflammation was assessed by measuring the lengths of the intestines and colon, and sepsis was evaluated by the survival period. G. lingzhi and AD-GL were mixed with animal feed (2.5%) that was available ad libitum during the experimental period. The murine model was established by the repeated oral administration of IND (once a day, 5 mg/kg from day 0). On day 3, the lengths of the small intestine and colon were measured, and the average lengths of the intestines were significantly shorter in the control and G. lingzhi-administered groups than in the AD-GL-administered group. This finding suggests that AD-GL protected against gut inflammation due to IND-induced ulceration and subsequent microbial translocation. Furthermore, the median numbers of survival days in the control group, the G. lingzhi group, and the AD-GL group were 5, 6, and 11, respectively. The concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin-6, in the blood were significantly reduced in the mice administered AD-GL. In the in vitro cell culture, G. lingzhi and AD-GL fractions released a significantly higher concentration of TNF-α from the spleen, and the splenocytes of mice administered AD-GL hot water extract showed a greater potential to produce cytokines in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns. These results strongly suggest the protection of the gut mucosa from inflammation, and therefore the prevention of sepsis, by the administration of AD-GL. Autodigestion appears to be a promising protocol that enhances the usefulness of G. lingzhi as a functional food.

Production of low-molecular weight soluble yeast ß-glucan by an acid degradation method.

ß-glucan is widely distributed in nature as water soluble and insoluble forms. Both forms of ß-glucan are utilized in several fields, especially for functional foods. Yeast ß-glucan is a medically important insoluble particle. Solubilization of yeast ß-glucan may be valuable for improving functional foods and in medicinal industries. In the present study, we applied an acid degradation method to solubilize yeast ß-glucan and found that ß-glucan was effectively solubilized to low-molecular weight ß-glucans by 45% sulfuric acid treatment at 20°C. The acid-degraded soluble yeast ß-glucan (ad-sBBG) was further fractionated into a higher-molecular weight fraction (ad-sBBG-high) and a lower-molecular weight fraction (ad-sBBG-low). Since ad-sBBG-high contained mannan, while ad-sBBG-low contained it only scarcely, it was possible to prepare low-molecular weight soluble ß-glucan with higher purity. In addition, ad-sBBG-low bound to dectin-1, which is an innate immunity receptor of ß-glucan, and showed antagonistic activity against reactive oxygen production and cytokine synthesis by macrophages. Thus, this acid degradation method is an important procedure for generating immune-modulating, low-molecular weight, soluble yeast ß-glucan.

Draft Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Cellulosimicrobium sp. Strain KWT-B, Isolated from Feces of Hirundo rustica.

Migratory birds have been postulated as potential spreaders of antibiotic resistance. Multidrug-resistant Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain KWT-B was isolated from the feces of Hirundo rustica A draft genome sequence indicated that the strain harbors multidrug-resistant transporters, multidrug efflux pumps, a vancomycin-resistant protein, and metallo-beta-lactamases.

Modulation of an innate immune response by soluble yeast ß-glucan prepared by a heat degradation method.

ß-glucan is widely distributed in nature as water soluble and insoluble forms. Both forms of ß-glucan are applied in several fields, especially for functional foods. Yeast ß-glucan is a medically important insoluble particle. Solubilization of yeast ß-glucan may be a valuable approach to increase functional foods and medicinal fields. We have applied a heat degradation method to solubilize yeast ß-glucan and found that it was effectively solubilized by treatment with an aqueous suspension at 135°C for several hours. The solubilized yeast ß-glucan (hd-sBBG) exhibited antagonistic activity to the reactive oxygen production of macrophages and to the cytokine synthesis of macrophages. hd-sBBG strongly reacted with the anti-ß-glucan antibody in human sera and with dectin-1, the innate immune receptor of ß-glucan. From these findings, the heat degradation method is an important procedure for making immune modulating soluble yeast ß-glucan.

Enhanced Release of Immunostimulating ß-1,3- Glucan by Autodigestion of the Lingzhi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lingzhi (Agaricomycetes).

Ganoderma lingzhi is a widely used medicinal mushroom that has antioxidative effects, ameliorates insulin resistance, and improves quality of life in patients with metabolic syndrome. Potentiation of immunity is also a major function of G. lingzhi, and this has been applied in patients with cancer. Supplementing G. lingzhi into foods reduced the metastasis of cancer cells. ß-l,3-glucan is an important bioactive component of G. lingzhi. In this study we enhanced the solubilization ofimmunostimulating ß-l,3-glucan by autodigestion of G. lingzhi. Fruiting bodies of G. lingzhi were disrupted and suspended in distilled water, then autodigested at 37°C for 24 hours. The resulting suspension was dried by spray drying. To assess the solubilization of ß-l,3-glucan by autodigestion, cold and hot water extracts and sodium hydroxide extracts of G. lingzhi were prepared with and without autodigestion. Sodium hydroxide extracts were neutralized and dialyzed against distilled water. The resulting soluble and precipitated fractions were collected. Chemical, biochemical, and immunochemical characteristics of the extracts were compared. The yields of cold water extracts of autodigested and native G. lingzhi were significantly lower than the other extracts. Glucose was the major sugar component of the hot water extract, cold alkali extract (CAS), and the cold hydroxide extract insoluble in neutral aqueous condition (CASP) of the autodigested and native G. lingzhi. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed branched ß-glucans in the hot water extract and CAS of the autodigested and native G. lingzhi. By contrast, the CASP of the autodigested and native G. lingzhi comprised mainly mixtures of linear α-l,3-glucans and linear ß-l,3-glucans. Immunostimulation by ß-l,3-glucan was examined by limulus factor G activation, dectin-1 binding, and anti-ß-glucan antibody binding. Comparing relative activity, immunostimulating ß-l,3-glucan was detected in the hot water extract, rather than the CAS, of autodigested and native G. lingzhi. Immunostimulating of ß-glucan was also detected in the cold water extract of the autodigested G. lingzhi. These findings demonstrate that autodigestion is a useful processing protocol for enhancing the usefulness of G. lingzhi as a functional food.