Begell House Inc.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms
IJM
1521-9437
1
3
1999
A Review of Pharmacological Activities of Mushroom Polysaccharides
195-206
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.10
Vincent Eng Choo
Ooi
Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong, China
Fang
Liu
Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
Antidiabetes
antiinflammatory
antitumor
Basidiomycetes
immunomodulation
mushroom
polysaccharides
In the last few decades, mushrooms have increasingly been used as a source of therapeutic agents or health food supplements. In particular, polysaccharides or polysaccharide-protein complexes derived from mushrooms have received much attention in biomedical research. These bioactive biopolymers are mainly present as glucans with different types of glycosidic linkages, such as (1→3), (1→6)-β-glucans and (1→3)-α-gtucans, while others mostly bind to protein residues as polysaccharide-protein complexes. One of the most promising activities of these polysaccharides is their immunomodulation and anticancer effect. Three antitumor polysaccharides, namely lentinan, schizophyllan, and protein-bound polysaccharide (or polysaccharopeptide), have been isolated from Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing., Schizophyllum commune (Fr.: Fr.), and Coriolus versicolor (L.: Fr.) Quel. [= Trametes versicolor (L.: Fr.) Lloyd], respectively, and have become large nutraceutical and pharmaceutical market items, particularly in Japan. The mechanism of their antitumor actions is still not completely understood. But it is widely accepted that antitumor polysaccharides from higher fungi enhance various immune responses in vivo and in vitro, and act as biological response modifiers. Potentiation of the host defense system may result in the activation of many kinds of immune cells that are vitally important for the maintenance of homeostasis. In addition to immunomodulation and antitumor activity, there are new potential applications of mushroom polysaccharides or polysaccharide-protein complexes for pharmaceutical and functional food development. These polysaccharides have been shown to have various potent pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, free radical scavenging, antiviral, hepatoprotective, antifibrotic, antiinflammatory, antidiabetes, and hypocholesterolemic activities.
The Antitumor Activity of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.:Fr.)P. Karst. (Ling Zhi) (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Polysaccharides Is Related to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interferon-γ
207-215
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.20
Qun-Hao
Zhang
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083, China
Zhi-Bin
Lin
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
Apoptosis
Ganoderma lucidum
HL-60
interferon-γ
macrophage
polysaccharides
proliferation
Sarcoma 180
T lymphocyte
tumor necrosis factor-α
In the present study, the antitumor activity of GL-B, a polysaccharide isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Curt:Fr.)P. Karst. and its mechanism were studied in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: (1) GL-B 50, 100, 200 μ;g ml−1 inhibited the growth of implanted Sarcoma 180 in vivo significantly and dose dependently. (2) GL-B directly added to the culture medium neither induced HL-60 apoptosis nor restrained its proliferation in vitro. (3) The macrophage or T lymphocyte culture medium treated with GL-B (GL-B-M-CM or GL-B-T-CM) 50, 100, and 200 μ;g ml−1 significantly induced HL-60 apoptosis and inhibited its proliferation. GL-B significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release in dose-dependent and time-dependent instances. (4) As untreated macrophages and T lymphocytes produced little or no TNF-α and IFN-γ, and macrophage culture medium with normal saline (N-M-CM) or T lymphocyte culture medium with normal saline (N-T-CM) did not inhibit HL-60 proliferation or induce its apoptosis, it seemed that the antitumor activity of GL-B was related to apoptosis induced by TNF-α-release from macrophages and IFN-γ-release from T lymphocytes.
Pharmacology and Clinical Application of the Spores of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. and Mycelium of Ganoderma capense (Lloyd) Teng. (Aphyllophromycilideae)
217-222
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.30
Geng Tao
Liu
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
Ganoderma capense mycelium
Ganoderma lucidum spores
neuromuscular disorders
pharmacology
Many studies on the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. and G. japonicum (Fr.) Lloyd have been carried out. The study of G. lucidum spores and G. capense (Lloyd) Teng mycelium produced by submerged fermentation is rare. This article mainly reviews the results of our studies on the pharmacology and clinical uses of G. lucidum spores and G. capense mycelium. In general, the alcohol-water-soluble portion of both Ganoderma materials given by injection has a sedative effect on the central nervous system, promotes circulation, and modulates immune function and antiallergic inflammation in animals. The alcohol-ether extract of both Ganoderma samples showed protective action against experimental liver damage in mice. The injections made from the alcohol-water-soluble fraction of G. lucidum spores and G. capense mycelium have been used in the treatment of several kinds of neuromuscular diseases such as dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and alopecia. Some therapeutic effects were observed.
Hypoglycemic Activity of the Medicinal Mushroom Hypholoma fasciculare (Huds.:Fr.) Kumm. (Agaricales s.l., Basidiomycetes)
223-228
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.40
Susanna M.
Badalyan
Laboratory of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Pharmacy, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian St., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia
Jean-Jacques
Serrano
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montpellier 1.15 Av. Ch. Flahault, 34060, Montpellier Cedex 2, France
Aqueous reextract
Hypholoma fasciculare
hypoglycemic activity
For the first time, hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rats is reported for aqueous reextract, obtained from the fruiting bodies of the poisonous medicinal mushroom Hypholoma fasciculare (Huds.:Fr.) Kumm., at a 50 mg/kg dose. Preliminary results indicate that nontoxic aqueous reextract by i.p. administration temporarily decreases the sugar level in the blood. However, the p.o. administration of fungal extract did not provoke any particular changes in glycemia in the animals.
Testing of Biologically Active Compounds in Stropharia rugosoannulata Far I. ex Murr. (Agaricales s.l., Basidiomycetes)
229-233
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.50
Anna A.
Grodzinskaya
Department of Spore Plants, M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Tereshchenkivska str. 2, Kiev, GSP-1, 01601, Ukraine
Solomon P.
Wasser
International Centre for Biotechnology and Biodiversity of Fungi,
Institute of Evolution and Faculty of Natural Sciences,
University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
Peter M.
Balaban
Institute of Higher Nervous Activity, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Extract
Higher Basidiomycetes
mollusk
neurons of visceral ganglion
spike activity
Stropharia rugosoannulata
Effects of water and ethanol extracts of raw fruiting bodies of the cultivated edible mushroom Stropharia rugosoannulata Farl. ex Murr., (Agaricales s.l., Basidiomycetes) (commercial strain "Gelb" with yellow caps) on spike activity of identified neurons of mollusk Helix lucorum L. were studied. Distinct characteristics of the H. lucorum nervous system permit interpreting the results of the effect of biologically active compounds (BACs) on the same identified neurons of different individuals. The general effect of water extracts consisted in a stable increase of impulse activity that was preserved during the entire period of extract application. The ethanol extracts caused a threefold increase of frequency with two phases of stimulation activity. The data obtained make it possible to regard the S. rugosoannulata BAC activity as nontoxic and decreasing during a thermal treatment. Further investigations of the chemical nature and capacity of S. rugosoannulata BAC to penetrate through the hematoencephalic barrier are extremely important. This problem is of great significance for neuropharmacology and for possible medicinal application of this valuable edible mushroom.
Studies on Microstructures of Vegetative Mycelium in the Medicinal Mushrooms Hericlum ehnaceus (Bull.:Fr.)Pers. and Grifola frondosa (Dicks.:Fr.) S. F. Gray (Aphyllophoromycetideae)
235-241
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.60
Asja S.
Buchalo
M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Tereshchenovskaya Str., 2, Kiev 01601, Ukraine
Solomon P.
Wasser
International Centre for Biotechnology and Biodiversity of Fungi,
Institute of Evolution and Faculty of Natural Sciences,
University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
Sergey V.
Reshetnikov
N. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2 Tereshchenkivskaya Str., Kiev 252001, Ukraine; and Med Myco Ltd., Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
Andrey Ph.
Grigansky
M.G.Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Tereshchenkivska Str. 2, Kiev, 252001, Ukraine
Arthroconidia
chlamydospores
cultural study
Grifola frondosa
Hericium erinaceus
higher Basidiomycetes
monocaryon
morphology
mycelium
The morphological characteristics of fine hyphal structure, exocellular crystals, and asexual structures were investigated by light and electron scanning microscopy in pure dicaryotic cultures of Grifola frondosa (Dicks.:Fr.) S. F. Gray, and Hericium erinaceus (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. dicaryons and haploid strains. The hyphae of H. erinaceus were found to have numerous clamps with a hole at each septa, exocellullar crystals are of cubic or rectangular shape, and apical and intercallar chlamydospores form on the clamped conidiogenous hyphae. Haploid culture of H. erinaceus formed disintegrated arthroconidia by way of protoplast condensation. Medallion type clamps are characteristic for G. frondosa. Apical and intercallar chlamydospores developed on the dicaryotic mycelium, but they differ from those of H. erinaceus by formation on the clampless hyphae.
Influence of Storage Conditions on Immunomodulating Activities in Lentinus edodes (Berk.)Sing. (Agaricales s.l., Basidiomycetes)
243-250
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.70
Ken-ichiro
Minato
School of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Miyagi University, Sendai 982-0215, Japan
Masashi
Mizuno
Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
Hitoshi
Ashida
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
Takashi
Hashimoto
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
Hirofumi
Terai
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
Hironobu
Tsuchida
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
β-Glucanase
immunomodulating activity
lentinan
Lentinus edodes
nitric oxide
tumor necrosis factor-α
The immunomodulating activities of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) production from mouse macrophages stimulated with extract from Lentinus edodes (Berk.)Sing. stored under different conditions were investigated. TNF-α production was approximately 60 pg ml−1 from macrophages stimulated with the extract from fresh L. edodes in vitro. This effect of the extract from the stored L. edodes showed no drastic difference under low temperature (1 and 5°C) storage. However, TNF-α production from macrophages stimulated with extract from L. edodes stored at 20°C for 7 days decreased to approximately 12 pg ml−1. Also, TNF-α production in vivo from macrophages stimulated with the extract from L. edodes stored at 20°C decreased approximately 20%, compared with that made from the fresh mushroom. This result showed the same tendency as in vitro. NO production from macrophages stimulated with the fresh mushroom extract was 7.4 μ;M. Although NO production from macrophages stimulated with the extract from the mushroom stored at low temperature was not different significantly from that observed in the fresh L. edodes extract, its production was scarcely detected in the extract from L. edodes stored at 20°C for 7 days. Moreover, lentinan was enzymatically degraded by β-glucanase in L. edodes; in addition the effect of lentinan on the production of these cytokines was decreased with degradation of lentinan. These results showed that the decrease of immunomodulating activities in L. edodes might be reflected by the reduction of lentinan content, which was degraded by β-glucanase during storage of the mushroom.
Medicinal Effects and Utilization of Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes) and Isaria Fr. (Mitosporic Fungi) Chinese Caterpillar Fungi, "Tochukaso" (Review)
251-261
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.80
Takashi
Mizuno
Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 4-13-9 Seinan-Cho, Fujieda-Shi 426-0063, Japan
antitumor polysaccharide
Cordyceps species
cordycepin
cultivation
hypoglycemic activity
Isaria species
medicinal dishes
Polysaccharides CI-P
CI-A
CO-N.
Cordiceps (Fr.) Link species (Tochukaso in Japanese, Chinese caterpillar fungi) are a parasite on cicada larvae that forms its scleotium in the insect larvae. At present, the fruiting bodies of Cordyceps species are not cultivated or cultured. However, cultivation of mycelia of this species that is, C. sinensis (Berk.) Sacc, C. sobolefera (Hill.) Berk, et Br., C. militaris (L.: Fr.) Link, and Isaria japonica Lloyd, etc., becomes relatively easy. Antitumor polysaccharides, galactomannan CI-P and CI-A, were isolated from C. cicadae Shing (Chinese Semitake) parasitic fungus on the larva of Cicada flammata Dist. On the other hand, a remarkable antitumor active β-(l→3)-D-glucan CO-1 and galactosaminoglycan CO-N were isolated from C. ophioglossoides (Ehrh.) Fr. Hanayasuritake. Antitumor polysaccharides such as galactomannan and β-(l→3)-D-glucan were isolated from the insect part and fruit body of C. cicadae. These polysaccharides were shown to have hypoglycemic activity. D-Mannitol, which is a sugar alcohol contained in many plants including fungi and marine algae, was isolated from Cordyceps species. It is said that sugar alcohol and trehalose help to moisten cells and exert cosmetic effects. The cultured hypha extract of Cordyceps species was orally administered and found to produce antifatigue and motor function improving effects.
Cultivation of the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.:Fr.)P. Karst. (Reishi) in North America
263-282
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.90
Alice W.
Chen
Specialty Mushrooms, 1730 Penfield Rd., No.41, Penfield, NY 14526, USA
In contrast to the long Chinese history of cultivation of Ganoderma species (ling zhi/reishi), the most important medicinal mushroom in China, growing reishi is a fairly new adventure in North America. In the past decade or so, increasing awareness of the potential health benefits of Ganoderma species led to production of this medicinal mushroom in the United States and Canada. Such interest was triggered primarily by the immune-enhancing property of the mushroom in integrated therapies for immune deficiency syndrome and cancer. In pharmacological studies in the United States, the search for effective antiinflammatory agents for safe long-term use was directed to this ancient medicinal mushroom. Western herbalists took initiatives in studying and using Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.:Fr.P. Karst.) and other species. Growers across the Pacific Ocean chose almost exclusively G. lucidum as the species for cultivation. North American Ganoderma growers are characterized on the basis of product orientation. Features of emerging North American growers are described. Methodology used in Ganoderma cultivation in North America is illustrated, focusing on synthetic log and natural log cultivation. Highlighted is the successful commercial-scale operation of Organotech in San Antonio, Texas. As a reference for growers, stepwise cultivation technology and crop management is covered.
XVth International Congress on the Science and Cultivation of Edible Fungi Maastricht, The Netherlands, May 15−19, 2000
283-290
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v1.i3.100