Begell House Inc.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms
IJM
1521-9437
21
1
2019
In Vitro and In Vivo Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by Ethanolic Extracts of Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes)
1-11
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029487
Ge
Wang
Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Xiumin
Zhang
College of Life Sciences, Hebei University,
Engineering Laboratory of Microbial Breeding and Preservation of Hebei Province, Key Disciplines of Bioengineering in Hebei Province, Hebei-Baoding, China
Susan E.
Maier
Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Liping
Zhang
Baoding Baienjie Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Hebei-Baoding, China
Robert J.
Maier
Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Hericium erinaceus
Helicobacter pylori
cell adhesion
interleukin-8
8-oxo-guanine
mouse colonization
medicinal mushrooms
Natural products are sources for exploratory development of new agents to combat the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Some edible fungi, such as the lion's mane mushroom, have been used for several thousand years to treat digestive diseases. Ethanol-based extractions to prepare Hericium erinaceus extracts were tested for growth inhibition ability of six different H. pylori strains at an extract concentration that did not inhibit Escherichia coli growth, and further for dose-dependent antibactericidal capacity on H. pylori. H. erinaceus extract exhibited similar growth inhibitory effects on all H. pylori strains tested, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of about 2 mg/mL. H. pylori survival in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was decreased 3 logs by 2 mg/mL extract addition. H. erinaceus extract inhibited H. pylori adhesion capacity to human gastric epithelial cell line (ATCC CRL-1739) (AGS), even when H. erinaceus extract was added at a concentration that affected neither H. pylori nor AGS viability. Interleukin-8 (IL-8, representing an immune response factor) in supernatants from AGS and 8-oxo-guanine (8-oxoG, a marker for oxidative DNA damage among the total host cell DNA) were measured from AGS cells exposed to H. erinaceus extract before H. pylori addition. The subsequent H. pylori-mediated immune response (IL-8 production) was significantly (P < 0.01) decreased by H. erinaceus extract; at 1.0 mg/mL extract addition, IL-8 expression returned to nearly background level (no H. pylori added). H. pylori infection of AGS caused a 3-fold increase in host 8-oxoG, but this increase was abolished by including 2 mg/mL H. erinaceus extract. Mouse colonization assays of C57BL mice were performed on
homogenized stomachs 3 weeks after inoculating H. pylori into the animals; mice receiving the H. erinaceus extract had a mean H. pylori load of 6 × 104 CFU/g of stomach, about 1 log lower than the control (no extract) animals.
Immunomodulatory Activities of Polysaccharides from White Button Mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (Agaricomycetes), Fruiting Bodies and Cultured Mycelia in Healthy and Immunosuppressed Mice
13-27
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029648
Yang
Liu
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
Dandan
Zheng
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
Dinghe
Wang
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
Ling
Su
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
Qi
Wang
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
Yu
Li
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, People's Republic of China; Internationally Cooperative Research Center of China for New Germplasm Breeding of Edible Mushroom, Ministry of Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
Agaricus bisporus
immunomodulatory
medicinal mushrooms
polysaccharides
Agaricus bisporus is a very important edible and medicinal mushroom. In this study, we systematically
investigated the monosaccharide composition, methylation, and immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharides from A. bisporus fruiting bodies (FPS), cultured mycelia (IPS), and fermentation broth (EPS). The results indicated that FPS was mainly composed of mannose; IPS, of glucose; and EPS, of galactose. However, the methylation results indicated that FPS, IPS, and EPS possessed different polysaccharide structures. Furthermore, FPS, IPS, and EPS caused remarkable increases in the thymus and spleen indexes; in the amounts of serum cytokines containing interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ); in the counts of CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T lymphocytes; however, they decreased the counts of CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes in normal mice. Finally, in cyclophosphamide-treated mice, the FPS, IPS, and EPS were able to significantly restore the thymus and spleen indexes, lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytotic activity of peritoneal macrophages, and levels of IL-2, IL-6,
IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and immunoglobin G. These findings suggest that FPS, IPS, and EPS could all be exploited as
immunomodulatory agents and potential immunotherapeutic medicines for patients with inadequate immune function.
Aqueous Extract of Wood Ear Mushroom, Auricularia polytricha (Agaricomycetes), Demonstrated Antiepileptic Activity against Seizure Induced by Maximal Electroshock and Isoniazid in Experimental Animals
29-35
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029113
Gaurav
Gupta
School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Mahal Road, Jagatpura 302017, Jaipur, India; Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India; Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
Sachchidanand
Pathak
School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Rajiv
Dahiya
Laboratory of Peptide Research and Development, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
Rajendra
Awasthi
Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Anurag
Mishra
School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Mahal Road, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India;
Rakesh Kumar
Sharma
School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India
Mohit
Agrawal
School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Kamal
Dua
Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle (UoN), Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
antiepileptic activity
Auricularia polytricha
isoniazid
maximal electroshock
medicinal mushrooms
phenytoin
Auricularia polytricha is a popular mushroom found all over the world. This article describes a study of the antiepileptic effect of A. polytricha, a mushroom that is used traditionally for treating asthma, rheumatism, tumors,
cough, fever, and epilepsy, and for its antimicrobial effect. We carried out toxicity studies to identify a standard dose
of A. polytricha aqueous extract; maximal electroshock (MES)− and isoniazid (INH)−induced seizures in albino mice were used to screen for the extract's antiepileptic activity. Per Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development Guideline 423, up to 2000 mg/kg body weight of extract was toxic. Animals were treated with aqueous
extract at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight. Phenytoin was used as the reference anticonvulsant drug for
comparison. The investigation found a significant interruption in INH-induced clonic seizure. During MES, we found
a reduction in the period of hind leg extensor phase; mice exhibited a significant decrease in the duration of hind limb
extension after being treated with 400 and 600 mg/kg doses of A. polytricha. Comparable results were obtained in the
INH group, as the extract seemed to delay the onset of a clonic seizure. The aqueous extract of A. polytricha showed
antiepileptic action against MES- and INH-induced epilepsy in the mice. This extract, however, requires additional study in order to completely explain its active ingredients and their mechanisms of action.
Dissolution of Bioactive Components from Dried Fruiting Bodies of the Culinary-Medicinal Shiitake Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes), during Cleaning, Soaking, and Cooking
37-45
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029006
Lina
Zhu
National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Key Laboratory of Applied Mycological Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
Shulei
Wang
Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China; China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
Zhong
Zhang
National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Key Laboratory of Applied Mycological Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of
Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
Shuai
Zhou
Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi Resources and Utilization (South) of Ministry of Agriculture; National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding of Shanghai; Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
Qingjiu
Tang
Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi Resources and Utilization (South) of Ministry of Agriculture; National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding of Shanghai; Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
Feihua
Wu
China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
Jingsong
Zhang
Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi Resources and Utilization (South), Ministry of Agriculture, P.R. China; National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi; National R&D Center for Edible Fungi Processing, Shanghai, 201403, P.R. China
dissolution rate
Lentinus edodes
medicinal mushrooms
polysaccharide
processing
purine compounds
Lentinus edodes fruiting bodies are rich in active substances such as polysaccharides and eritadenine. Patients with gout, however, should avoid or severely limit their intake of foods containing large amounts of purine. In this study we quantitatively analyzed the polysaccharide and purine compounds dissolved from L. edodes fruiting bodies during cleaning, soaking, and cooking. Eritadenine, adenosine, guanosine, guanosine monophosphate, adenosine monophosphate, xanthine, and adenine dissolved from L. edodes fruiting bodies during cleaning with tap water; their dissolution rates ranged between 3.77% and 24.30%. Dissolution rates of polysaccharide and purine compounds in L. edodes fruiting bodies increased linearly with increases in the duration of soaking and cooking, and adding acetic acid or NaHCO3 in the soaking or cooking solutions significantly either inhibited or promoted their dissolution rates. On the basis of these experimental results, we offer science-based suggestions for reasonable treatment of L. edodes fruiting bodies before eating for both patients with gout and healthy people.
Developing a Novel Two-Stage Process for Carotenoid Production by Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes)
47-57
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029002
Qianwang
Zheng
Institute of Food Biotechnology and College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China; Research Center for Micro-Ecological Agent Engineering and Technology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
Tao
Wei
Department of Bioengineering, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China; Research Center for Micro-Ecological Agent Engineering and Technology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P.R. China
Yin
Lin
Institute of Food Biotechnology and College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Zhi-Wei
Ye
Department of Bioengineering, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China; Research Center for Micro-Ecological Agent Engineering and Technology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P.R. China
Jun-Fang
Lin
Department of Bioengineering, College of Food Science & Institute of Food Biotechnology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China; Research Center for Micro-Ecological Agent Engineering and Technology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510640, China
Li-Qiong
Guo
Department of Bioengineering, College of Food Science & Institute of Food Biotechnology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China; Research Center for Micro-Ecological Agent Engineering and Technology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510640, China
Fan
Yun
Alchemy Biotechnology Co., Ltd. of Guangzhou City, Guangzhou 510760, China
Linzhi
Kang
Alchemy Biotechnology Co., Ltd. of Guangzhou City, Guangzhou 510760, China
2-stage process
carotenoids
Cordyceps militaris
inducers
medicinal mushrooms
response surface methodology
Natural carotenoids are attracting increasing interest, but their widespread use is limited because of poor production. Cordyceps militaris, a traditional Chinese mushroom, contains a large amount of carotenoids, and this study aimed to increase carotenoid production by C. militaris by optimizing a liquid-state cultivation system. We developed and optimized a novel 2-stage process, including cultivation under shaking in darkness and under static irradiation on a flat panel, using response surface methodology, and we compared this process to common shake-flask cultivation. In addition, we examined the effects of different inducers (chitosan, peanut oil, tomato juice, yeast, and metal ions) on carotenoid production. Results showed that under optimal conditions (4 days of shaking in darkness, 10 days of static irradiation with a 100-mL flat panel volume), a maximum of 1217.5 ± 115.9 μ;g/g carotenoids were produced; only 662.9 μ;g/g were produced by common shake-flask cultivation. Only a large amount of chitosan (8 mg) could significantly increase carotenoid content; some of the other inducers showed inhibitory effects. This study demonstrated that this 2-stage process could effectively increase the natural carotenoid content in C. militaris, making it a potential source for commercial exploitation.
Effect of Environmental Conditions on Synnema Formation and Nucleoside Production in Cicada Flower, Isaria cicadae (Ascomycetes)
59-69
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029506
Kuanbo
Liu
State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Fen
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Guijun
Liu
Beijing Radiation Center, Beijing, China
Caihong
Dong
State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
Isaria cicadae
light
medicinal mushrooms
N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine
nucleoside
synnema
temperature
Isaria cicadae (syn. Cordyceps cicadae) is one of the most valued edible and medicinal fungi and has been used in Asia as a substitute for Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Wild I. cicadae is limited and seasonal, and its cultivation is deserved. In this investigation we studied synnema formation by and nucleoside production in cicada flower under different environmental conditions. I. cicadae produced an asexual structure and mitospores instead of meiotic ascospores; this indicates that the term "synnema" is more suitable than "fruiting body" for this species. The optimal temperature was 25°C for growth of I. cicadae mycelia on potato dextrose agar plates but was 20°C for synnema formation on wheat medium. Synnemata can grow well under blue, green, and white light, and the dry weight of samples grown under these 3 light wavelengths is not significantly different. However, neither primordia nor synnemata formed under red light. Blue light promotes conidia production and white light promotes N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) production. Weak white light at 50 and 150 lux was more suitable for synnema production than strong-intensity light at 850 lux. The growth curve showed that HEA content has the same trend as synnema production over the entire cultivation period. The optimal harvesting time for I. cicadae cultivated on wheat medium is 35 days after inoculation. HEA content in the synnemata cultivated on wheat medium under the optimal conditions was significantly higher than that of the wild species and of synnemata cultivated on pupae, suggesting that synnemata cultivated on wheat medium may have potential as a substitute for wild resources. The results presented herein provide a new strategy for producing superior-quality synnemata of I. cicadae and further elucidate the effects of environmental conditions on metabolite accumulation in fungi.
Radiocesium (137Cs) and Mineral Elements in Culinary-Medicinal Mushrooms from the Southern Outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine
71-77
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029583
Anna A.
Grodzinskaya
Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
Anatoliy I.
Samchuk
M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Vitaliy B.
Nebesnyi
Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Hanna Yu.
Honchar
Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
radiocesium
137Cs
mineral elements
accumulation
medicinal mushrooms
bioindication
In recent decades, the estimation of radionuclide and heavy metal levels in culinary-medicinal mushrooms has been of interest because some of them have proven to be hyperaccumulators of toxic elements. This article presents results on radiocesium (137Cs) activity in fruit bodies of medicinal-culinary mushrooms—Agaricus sylvaticus Schaeff., Chlorophyllum rhacodes (Vitt.) Vellinga, Coprinellus micaceus (Bull.) Vilgalys, Hopple & Jacq. Johnson, Coprinopsis atramentaria (Bull.) Redhead, Vilgalys & Moncalvo, Coprinus comatus (O.F. Mull.) Pers., Fistulina hepatica (Schaeff.) With., Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill, Leccinum scabrum (Bull.) Gray, Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Melanoleuca brevipes (Bull.) Pat., Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm., Xerocomellus chrysenteron (Bull.) Sutara, nonedible Echinoderma asperum (Pers.) Bon, and toxic species Agaricus xanthodermus Genev.—collected in 2015, as well as magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, cadmium, selenium, lead, and mercury content in medicinal-culinary species—Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm., Ch. rhacodes, C. comatus, Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray, Gyroporus cyanescens (Bull.) Quel., L. scabrum, M. procera, P. ostreatus, and X. chrysenteron—collected during 2016-2017 on the southern outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. The data obtained suggest safe levels of radiocesium and some essential and toxic elements in mushroom fruit bodies. All the investigated species are collective sorbents of magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc; thus, they represent the source of the intake of these elements in the human body. The species-specific manner of mineral element accumulation was observed. In addition to medicinal values, some species (in particular, M. procera and Ch. rhacodes) are of interest as potential informative bioindicators of heavy metal contamination of the environment.
Shiitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes), Supplementation Alters Gut Microbiome and Corrects Dyslipidemia in Rats
79-88
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029348
Haseeb
Anwar
Department of Physiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Jan S.
Suchodolski
Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Muhammad Irfan
Ullah
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty
of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
Ghulam
Hussain
Department of Physiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Z.
Shabbir
Quality Control Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Imtiaz
Mustafa
Department of Physiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Muhammad U.
Sohail
Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Qatar
Lentinus edodes
medicinal mushrooms
dyslipidemia
metabolic disorders
microbiome
16S rRNA sequencing
Recent interest in diet-induced modulation of the gut microbiome has led to research on the impact that dietary fibers can have on host health. Lentinus edodes mushroom-derived fibers may act as an appropriate substrate for gut microbe digestion and metabolism. The metabolites that gut microbes excrete can modulate host energy balance, gut absorption, appetite, and lipid metabolism. In the present study, we explored the dynamics of the gut microbiome of hypercholesterolemic rats supplemented with L. edodes. Wistar rats were offered a chow maintenance diet (CMD; CON group) or the same CMD ration with cholesterol (1.5% w/w) and cholic acid (0.5% w/w) added to induce hypercholesterolemia (day 1 to day 24). Hypercholesterolemic rats were subsequently offered either the same cholesterol-cholic acid diet (HC-CON group) or were supplemented with L. edodes (5% w/w; LE group) for 42 days (day 25 to day 66). At the end of the experiment, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were determined. Colon digesta were subjected to DNA extraction and subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Raw sequences were quality filtered and statistically analyzed using QIIME and LEfSe tools. Triglyceride concentrations were lower (P = 0.002) in the LE group than in the CON and HC-CON groups. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations were slightly decreased, whereas HDL cholesterol concentrations were increased by L. edodes supplementation compared with the HC-CON group. The gut microbiome of the LE group had higher species richness characterized by increased abundance of Clostridium and Bacteroides spp. Linear discriminant analysis identified bacterial clades that were statistically different among treatment groups. In conclusion, manipulation of gut microbiota through the administration of L. edodes could manage dyslipidemia.
Effects of Diets Supplemented with Medicinal Mushroom Myceliated Grains on Some Production, Health, and Oxidation Traits of Dairy Ewes
89-103
10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018029327
Adriana
Bonanno
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Antonino
Di Grigoli
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Francesca
Vitale
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Giuseppe
Di Miceli
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Massimo
Todaro
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Marco
Alabiso
Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Maria Letizia
Gargano
Departament of Schol, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via G. Amendola, 165/A – 70126 Bari, Italy
Giuseppe
Venturella
Italian Society of Medicinal Mushrooms, Pisa, Italy; Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Felicia N.
Anike
Mushroom Biology and Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Omoanghe S.
Isikhuemhen
Mushroom Biology and Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
cheese oxidative stability
ewes
fatty acids
fungus myceliated grains
intestinal parasite control
medicinal mushrooms
milk
The beneficial properties of mushrooms' bioactive compounds indicate their potential for use as performance-enhancing natural additives for livestock animals. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with mushroom myceliated grains (MMGs) fed to dairy ewes on intestinal parasite load, milk production, milk fatty acid (FA) composition, and cheese oxidative stability. During an 8-week experimental period, 21 lactating Valle del Belice ewes were divided into 3 groups named MMG20, MMG10, and MMG0. Ewes in each group were fed hay ad libitum and 1.3 kg/day/head of 1 of 3 concentrates with MMGs at 20% (MMG20), 10% (MMG10), or 0% (MMG0). The ewes fed MMG20 had comparable dry matter (DM) and nutrients intake, fewer intestinal parasite infections, a tendency toward higher milk yield, and higher milk casein content (4.78% in MMG20 vs. 4.32% in MMG10 and 4.27% in MMG0; P < 0.05), and they produced cheese with less intense yellow color and a lower secondary lipid oxidation, than the ewes in the MMG10 and MMG0 groups. A higher antioxidant capacity was observed (17.83 mmol Trolox equivalent/kg DM in the MMG20 group vs. 9.97 and 9.18 mmol Trolox equivalent/kg DM in the MMG10 and MMG0 groups, respectively; P < 0.001), suggesting a higher oxidative stability of cheese fat and a probable enrichment of cheese with antioxidant compounds inherent in or induced by MMGs. The inclusion of MMGs in the diet did not affect the amounts of health-promoting polyunsaturated FAs in milk, with the exception of n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid, which was found only in milk from the MMG-treated ewes. These promising results merit further investigation into the potential use of medicinal mushrooms to enhance animal health and production.