Begell House Inc.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms
IJM
1521-9437
2
2
2000
Genus Pleurotus (Jacq.: Fr.) P. Kumm. (Agaricomycetideae): Diversity, Taxonomic Problems, and Cultural and Traditional Medicinal Uses
29
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.10
Gastón
Guzmán
Instituto de Ecologia, Apartada Postal 63, Xalapa, Veracruz 91000, Mexico
The taxonomic difficulties in the identification of the species of Pleurotus are extensively discussed. The problems are attributable to the great variation and wide distribution, as well as the magnified use of genetic and biochemistry studies of strains not clearly identified. More than 1000 species of Pleurotus have been described throughout the world, in more than 25 related and/or confused genera. However, only approximately 50 valid species are recognized in Pleurotus. Modern studies based on biochemical and molecular research and interbreeding tests are useful if they are based on the macro- and microscopic morphocharacters, as well as on the color of the basidioma, the spore print, and the type of hyphal system, all of which play an important role in the taxonomic classification of the genus. Of the more than 71 names related to Pleurotus discussed in the present article, only approximately 24 are considered as valid species in this genus. More than 20 species of Pleurotus are reported from Mexico, of which only seven seem valid taxa. P. ostreatus is apparently the species studied the most, but at the same time numerous taxonomic problems exist in its delimitation. The wild-type is unknown in Mexico; moreover, it is the most reported and cultivated, both for commercial and research uses, together with P. pulmonarius, P. columbinus, and P. djamor, the latter divided into three varieties, but all of them are of interbreeding among them. The traditional uses of the species of Pleurotus are revised. Approximately 100 common names of these mushrooms are known in Mexico. Several species of Pleurotus are used in traditional medicine for approximately 35 disorders or diseases.
Antitumor Activity of Oral Administration of Mycovirus Extract from Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. (Agaricomycetideae) on Murine Lymphoma
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10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.20
Sudhir C.
Kumar
Department of Internal Medicine, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 West Wellington Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657, USA
Mah-Lee
Ng
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597
The present study evaluated the antitumor activity of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-concentrated double-stranded RNA mycovirus, present abundantly in fresh 2-day-old buds of Lentinus edodes (shiitake mushroom). K36 cell-line induced murine lymphoma in male AKR mice was the tumor-model used. The difference in antitumor activity by three types of intervention in relation to leukemia cell inoculation was assessed. The three interventions were: prefeeding with mycovirus extract before K36 cell inoculation, simultaneously feeding of extract with K36 cell inoculation and administering the extract after tumors were induced. Tumors obtained 14 d after leukemia cell inoculation were investigated in detail. Prefeeding with mycovirus extract conferred the best antitumor activity with a tumor inhibition rate of 80.7% (p p p p = 0.866) without any toxic effects in mice. Electron microscopy revealed apoptotic cells in all three regimens. These findings were confirmed by confocal microscopy on TUNEL-stained lymphoma sections, a hallmark of apoptosis. Interestingly, electron microscopy also revealed abundant defective tumor retrovirus in the prefed regimen and lesser in the other two regimens. Cytokines interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in serum from healthy mice was assayed after oral administration of the extract. These surrogate markers of immunomodulation were significantly elevated (p = 0.004 and p = 0.025, respectively). This proved the formulated hypothesis that immunomodulation by mycovirus extract contributed to the observed antitumor activity and production of defective tumor retrovirus.
Effect of Ganoderma tsugae Murr. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) and Vitamin E Supplementation on Enzyme Activities in the Liver and Plasma of Normal and Chemically Induced Hepatocarcinogenic Rats
7
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.30
Nor Aripin
Shamaan
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia
Z.
Jarien
Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
B. A. K.
Khalid
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A. G. M.
Top
Division of Chemistry and Technology. Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia, Jalan Persiaran llmu, Bandar Baru Bangi. 43600 Bangi, Malaysia
W. Z. Wan
Ngah
Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ganoderma tsugae Murr. and vitamin E (α-tocopherol and γ-tocotrienol) were supplemented, alone and combined, to normal rats and rats chemically induced with cancer using a single injection of diethylnitrosamine followed by 0.2% (w/v) 2-acetylaminofluorene and partial hepatectomy. The rats were treated for 16 weeks before they were killed. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGTP), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and uridyldiphosphate glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) in plasma and subcellular fractions were determined. Blood glutathione levels were also determined. The activities of γGTP and placental GST were determined histochemically in the liver. The ratio of liver to body weight was significantly increased in the cancer-induced rats compared with normal controls. The ratios were unchanged after G. tsugae and vitamin E supplementation. Blood glutathione levels were significantly higher in the cancer-induced rats than normal controls. Supplementation of G. tsugae and vitamin E lowered blood glutathione levels to normal values. The enzyme activities in the subcellular fractions were higher in the cancer-induced rats than in normal controls. The activities were substantially attenuated upon G. tsugae and vitamin E supplementation. Attenuation of the enzyme-positive foci was also evident upon G. tsugae and vitamin E supplementation in the cancer-induced rats. G. tsugae supplementation that started 3 weeks after cancer induction resulted in a similar effect to G. tsugae supplementation started simultaneously with cancer induction.
Antibacterial Activity of Some Indian Mushrooms
10
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.40
Sangita
Dighe
Plant Sciences Division, Mycology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India
A. D.
Agate
Plant Sciences Division, Mycology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India
The antibacterial activity of 112 mushroom cultures from India was screened, and showed antibacterial activity in 18 cultures belonging to 11 genera. Good antibacterial activity of 9 species from the genera Amanita, Claudopus, Lepista, and Tricholoma was compared, and antibacterial activity was reported for the first time for Claudopus byssisedus and Amanita foetens species. Based on fast rate of growth, easy availability, cultivability, and edibility of the mushroom, in addition to a very low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the strain of Lepista nuda was finally selected for further studies and was found to possess a MIC of 0.0042 μ;g/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and required a pH of 5.2 and temperature of 25°C for maximum production of the antibacterial substance(s). The water-soluble antibacterial substances extracted from the culture filtrate of L. nuda were found to be thermostable and acidic and were identified on the basis of ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra as polyacetylenic compound(s).
Techniques for the Cultivation of the Medicinal Mushroom Royal Sun Agaricus-Agaricus blazei Murr. (Agaricomycetideae)
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10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.50
Paul E.
Stamets
University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Fungi Perfecti P.O. Box 7634 Olympia, WA 98507, USA
The cultivation of the Royal Sun Agaricus or Agaricus blazei Murr. is discussed in detail. The particular temperature, humidity and environmental requirements are delineated, accompanied by recommended strategies for crop management. Fruitbodies grown from the same culture on sterilized sawdust have light pilei whereas fruitbodies grown from fermented manure-based compost have dark brown pilei, suggesting that substrate composition affects pigmentation during the expression of the fruitbody. Since cap pigmentation has been used as a taxonomic feature of some importance in the genus Agaricus, this study raises concerns about its taxonomic significance. The medicinal properties of this mushroom and its potential application in recycling are discussed.
Cultivation of Hohenbuehelia atrocaerulea (Fr.) Sing. (Agaricomycetideae): A Mushroom with Nematicidal Potential
3
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.60
Shrikant M.
Kuikarni
Mycology and Plant Pathology Group, Plant Sciences Division, Agharkar Research Institute, Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004. India
Sangita
Dighe
Plant Sciences Division, Mycology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India
The mushroom Hohenbuehelia atrocaerulea (Fr.) Sing. was cultivated for the first time on paddy straw to produce a sustained supply of basidiocarps to investigate their nematicidal potential. The biological efficiency of this mushroom was found to be 22.33%. In vitro assays with crude extract of the basidiocarps resulted in 48% mortality of the infective larvae of plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne spp.
PERSPECTIVES OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS IN HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITION IN THE 21ST CENTURY,AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, 12-14 September 2001, Kiev, Ukraine
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10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v2.i2.70