Begell House Inc.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms
IJM
1521-9437
8
1
2006
Development of the Culinary—Medicinal Mushrooms Industry in China: Past, Present, and Future
1-17
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.10
Shu-Ting
Chang
Department of Biology, Centre for International Services to Mushroom Biotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
In 1978,I was invited to conduct the first Mushroom Training Workshop in China. At that time, the production of cultivated edible mushrooms in China was only 60,000 tons, which accounted for only 5.7% of total world production. However, in 2002, China's mushroom production was over 8.6 million tons and accounted for about 70% of the total world output. The year 1990 can be considered the turning point in mushroom production in China. It was the year in which, for the first time, China produced more than 1 million tons of cultivated edible mushrooms, accounting for more than 28% of world mushroom production. The number of species of both edible and medicinal mushrooms cultivated has also been increasing over the years. Whereas the dynamics of production have been maintained for quite a few years, recent data indicate that the buoyant development is far from reaching a peak. China is now the largest mushroom producer, consumer, and exporter in the world. The reasons underlying China's success in the development of its mushroom industry during the past two and half decades can be broadly summarized as follows: (1) the vision, strong leadership, and initiative of central and local governments in grasping the immense potential benefits of mushroom cultivation; (2) strong scientific support from academic institutions; (3) manifold innovations in mushroom cultivation technology by talented mushroom farmers; and (4) the growth of the domestic market as a result of a strong national economy, which has been a key factor in the expansion of mushroom cultivation in China. The complementary major challenges now facing the mushroom industry in China are entry into an era of improved management, marketing, and quality control of its mushrooms and mushroom products and further promotion of research. In particular, improvements in communication technology are vital for modern business transactions. Advancement of the Chinese mushroom community's standing internationally should also be encouraged by hosting more international conferences, producing and publishing more high-quality scientific articles in international journals, and even establishing a home-based international journal for mushroom sciences. This will then further contribute to, and have a great impact on, the development of the mushroom industry at national and international levels.
Lectins of Higher Fungi (Macromycetes)—Their Occurrence, Physiological Role, and Biological Activity
19-30
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.20
Grazyna
Konska
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Collegium Medicum UJ, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins that appear in various organisms and possess the ability to link with precisely defined sugar structures. They constitute a significant element of biological systems, and their physiological role is connected with the process of glycolization at the level of cells, tissues, and the whole organism. Fungal lectins are isolated from fruiting bodies and also the mycelium of numerous species of macromycetes. The physiological role of fungal lectins covers, among other things, participation in the process of forming fruiting body primordia, the creation of mycelium structures easing the penetration of parasitic fungi into the host organism, as well as the identification of appropriate partners during the early stage of mycorrhization. The biological activity of fungal lectins in relation to organisms or animal or human cells apart from the earliest recognized erythroagglutinational ability manifests itself, for example, in phenomena such as lymphomitogenic activity and immunomodulatory properties, suppression of cell proliferation, and antitumor activity (antiproliferative cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing activities). Numerous lectins, including fungal lectins due to the high specificity of reversible binding with sugars, are widely used in cytochemical and histochemical methods. Fungal lectins have found application in research in the isolation and structure of cell glycoconjugates, the monitoring of changes occurring on the surface of the membranes of cells at various stages of physiological or pathological development. They can be helpful in embryological, microbiological, and taxonomic research. Fungal lectins have constituted a valuable tool for glycobiological studies in biomedical and cancer research. Several fungal lectins, possessing antitumoral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities are under clinical trial.
Comparative Study of Lectin Activity of Higher Basidiomycetes
31-38
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.30
Nona A.
Mikiashvili
Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Israel; Iv. Javakhishvili State University of Tbilisi, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Georgia; Mushroom Biology & Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, USA
Vladimir I.
Elisashvili
The Institute of Microbial Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Georgia, 0131 Tbilisi, Georgia
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
Eviatar D.
Nevo
Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 199 Abba Khousi Ave., Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Lectin activity of extracts from medicinal and edible mushrooms fruiting bodies (13 species) as well as from mycelia grown on liquid (6 species, 9 strains), and malt extract agar (11 species, 23 strains) media was evaluated for the first time using a hemagglutination (HA) with rabbit erythrocytes. It has been proved that the capability to synthesize lectins is widespread among higher Basidiomycetes, and HA activity is not only species- but also strain-dependent. Tremendous lectin HA titer was revealed in fruiting body extracts from Agaricus pilatianus and Coprinus comatus and comparatively high HA activity was revealed in Cerrena unicolor and Ganoderma ramnosissimum mycelial biomass. G. ramnosissimum strain 162 showed the highest among all fungi tested specifically for HA activity (64512 U/mg). The HA activity of extracts was inhibited with a large variety of carbohydrates. Lactose was the most potent inhibitor of fruiting body extracts from Agaricus pilatianus, Corpinus comatus, C. micaceus, Macrolepiota rachodes, and Tricholoma fractum, while lectins from Amanita ovoidea, Lepista nuda, and Melanoleuca brevipes exerted the highest specificity for galactose. Glucose appeared to be an exceptionally potent inhibitor of HA activity of fruiting body extracts from Leucoagaricus leucothitus with a minimal inhibition concentration of 0.39 mM. Lactose inhibited lectin activity of Coprinus comatus at a concentration of 0.78 mM while a much higher concentration of the same sugar (12.5 mM) was needed to prevent HA by fruiting body extracts from C. micaceus. Liquid culture mycelia extracts from Cerrena unicolor and Trametes versicolor were galactose specific while Ganoderma lucidum and G. ramnosissmum showed specificity for arabinose and GlcNAc, respectively.
Polysaccharopeptide from the Turkey Tail Fungus Trametes versicolor (L.:Fr.) Pilát Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transciptase and Protease
39-43
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.40
Tzi Bun
Ng
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New
Territories, Hong Kong, China
Hexiang
Wang
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
D. C. C.
Wan
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Polysaccharopeptide from the Turkey Tail fungus Trametes (=Coriolus) versicolor has been reported to possess a number of important attributes including anticancer, immunomodulatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective activities. In this investigation, it is shown that the polysaccharopeptide is capable of inhibiting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase and protease, the two enzymes of paramount importance to the life cycle of the HIV. The polysaccharopeptide inhibits other proteases including trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, proteinase K, subtilisin, and elastase to a smaller extent. The anti-HIV enzyme and immunostimulatory activities of the mushroom polysaccharopeptide make it a potential candidate for the therapy of AIDS.
Moderate Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors from the Edible Mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer (Agaricomycetideae)
45-47
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.50
Hiroyuki
Suzuki
Laboratory of Bioresource Science, Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami 090-8507, Japan
Masaaki
Kiyoto
Laboratory of Bioresource Science, Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami 090-8507, Japan
Naoki
Nobuyama
Laboratory of Bioresource Science, Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami 090-8507, Japan
Takaaki
Hara
Hakuju Life Science Co., Ltd., 32-17 Oyamahigashi-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0004, Japan
Yuzo
Yagi
Hakuju Life Science Co., Ltd., 32-17 Oyamahigashi-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0004, Japan
Iwao
Togashi
Department of Material Chemistry, Asahikawa National College of Technology, Asahikawa 071-8142, Japan
Akira
Harada
Chemical Biology Institute, Inc., 4-9-2-1Utsukushigaoka, Kiyota-ku, Sapporo 004-0814, Japan
Masakazu
Aoyama
Laboratory of Bioresource Science, Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Kitami Institute of Technology, Kitami 090-8507, Japan
The acetone extract of Pleurotus citrinopileatus showed a moderate inhibitory activity against the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE). The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the extract for ACE activity was 50.2 mg ml−1. D-mannitol was isolated as an active principle with a yield of 5.75 %. The IC50 value of the compound was 33.4 mg ml−1. D-arabitol and glycerol were also detected in the acetone extract. D-arabitol acted as an ACE inhibitor, whereas only limited activity was observed by the dose of glycerol.
Effect of Grifola frondosa (Dicks.:Fr.) S.F.Gray (Maitake Mushroom) Aqueous Extract on Nitric Oxide Production Induced by BCG and Cytokines in Rat Hepatocytes
49-55
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.60
Dong
Cao
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
Guo-Liang
Zhang
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
Wei
Ni
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
Hui-Ling
Teng
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
Zhi-Bin
Lin
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
ABSTRACT: To examine the effect of the Grifola frondosa (maitake mushroom) aqueous extract (MAE) on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by BCG pretreatment in vivo plus cytokines mixture (CM) stimulating conditions in vitro in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. NO accumulations were induced by BCG pretreatment (125 mg kg−1, 2 weeks, i.v.) in vivo or by BCG plus cytokine mixture (CM, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and LPS) stimulating a in culture medium in vitro. NO production in the cultured supernatant was determined by the Griess reaction. Application of MAE alone did not show marked effects on NO production (P > 0.05) in cultured hepatocytes, even though it was administered after 48 hr and at higher concentrations (800 mg L−1). Under the presence of BCG or/and CM conditions, NO production was significantly increased by MAE at 400 mg L−1 ∼ 800 mg L−1 concentrations (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) as the time-dependent manner in culture supernatant. But in similar BCG plus CM stimulating conditions, administration of MAE inhibited NO production at a range of lower concentrations (from 50 mg L−1 to 200 mg L−1, P < 0.05). On the other hand, both aminoguanidine and actinomycin D (ActD), which are inhibitors of selective iNOS enzyme activity and iNOS mRNA transcription, significantly inhibited BCG plus CM-induced NO production in rat hepatocytes (P < 0.05). The results of the present study not only further support the possibility that MAE might be an immunomodulating agent, but also confirm the immune effective mechanism of MAE by regulating NO production both in vivo and in vitro.
Immunomodulatory Activity of Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.) P. Karst. (Ling Zhi, Reishi) Polysaccharide Extract on Delayed Type Hypersensitivity
57-61
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.70
Shafi
Mojadadi
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-111, Tehran; and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman Medical University, Kerman, Iran
Massoumeh
Ebtekar
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
Zuhair Mohammad
Hassan
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
Ganoderma lucidum has been recognized as an immunomodulatory natural product. This study investigated the effect of G. lucidum polysaccharide extract (Gl-PS) on the proliferation of mouse lymphocytes and the DTH (delayed type hypersensitivity) response test. Initially, we examined Gl-PS effect on proliferation of mouse lymphocytes in vitro, and then cell-mediated immune response was studied using the DTH test. Results indicate that Gl-PS 0.1 μ;g/ml can significantly increase proliferation of mouse lymphocytes in vitro. Finally, evaluation of the effect of Gl-PS on DTH response indicates that Gl-PS 100 mg/kg can increase DTH response against SRBC in BALB/c mice. We conclude that Gl-PS has a potent immunomodulatory effect and can be used for potentiation of the immune system against diseases, such as cancer, and other diseases in which the immune response has been weakened.
Antibacterial Activity of Some Bulgarian Higher Basidiomycetes Mushrooms
63-66
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.80
Iva
Tsvetkova
Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 26, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Hristo
Naydenski
Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 26, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Assya
Petrova
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Emanuela
Kostadinova
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Melania
Gyosheva
Institute of Botany, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 23,1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Paulina
Georgieva
Institute of Botany, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 23,1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Vassya
Bankova
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Simeon
Popov
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Polar and unpolar extracts from 18 species of the most widespread Bulgarian higher Basidiomycetes were tested for their activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Most of the studied extracts demonstrated activity against S. aureus but all were inactive against the Gram-negative E. coli and C. albicans. In general, the chloroform extracts were more active than the butanol ones. The most active mushroom extracts were comparable and even more active than standardized propolis extract in their inhibition of S. aureus. The study demonstrates the potential of mushrooms as antibacterial remedies and as a source of antibacterial compounds and gives useful hints for a more detailed investigation of the most active species.
Cloning and Characterization of Polyphenoloxidase DNA from Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. (Agaricomycetideae)
67-76
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.90
Akiko
Matsumoto-Akanuma
School of Pharmacy, Department of Molecular Biology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
Akihiko
Yamagishi
Department of Molecular Biology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
Masuro
Motoi
Toei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 2-5-3 Iguchi, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0011; Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
Naohito
Ohno
Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
Polyphenoloxidases (PPOs), including tyrosinases and laccases, are ubiquitous metalloenzymes, which have several copper-binding sites. The enzymes cause undesirable browning in vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits, and melanin production of animals. Agaricus brasiliensis is an edible mushroom whose water extracts show biological response modifier effects. Since cold-water extracts of the mushroom fruiting body turn brown on incubation, it has been speculated that the mushroom contains significant amounts of PPOs. Our group has already shown that cold-water extracts indicated PPO activity. Therefore, we cloned a cDNA coding for a PPO from A. brasiliensis cultivated outside in the field. First, a partial sequence of the PPO gene was amplified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR from the total RNA isolated from A. brasiliensis. Since two copper-binding motifs are well conserved among the PPO amino acid sequences from fungi, two degenerate primers used for the RT-PCR were designed and synthesized based on these sequences. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragment showed 83% identity with the corresponding sequence of the A. bisporus PPO gene. Full-length cDNA of the PPO gene was amplified from a cDNA library of A. brasiliensis. Obtained DNA sequences indicated that the amplified cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1731 nucleotides that encoded 576 amino acid residues. Homology search analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence was most similar to that of A. bisporus PPO, with 75% identity. The A. brasiliensisfull-length PPO gene was also amplified from the genomic DNA and then se-quenced. Five introns were found within the gene.
Selenium Enrichment of Pleurotus cornucopiae (Paulet) Rolland and Grifola frondosa (Dicks.:Fr.) S.F. Gray Mushrooms
77-84
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.100
Robert B.
Beelman
Department of Food Science, 116D Borland Laboratory, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4507, USA
Daniel J.
Royse
Borland Laboratory, Departments of Food Science and Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-4507, USA
The objective of this study was to determine if Pleurotus cornucopiae (Paulet) Rolland and Grifola frondosa (Dicks.:Fr.) S.F. Gray mushrooms could be enriched with selenium by addition of sodium selenite to the growth substrate. Separate crops were grown using a cottonseed-hullor sawdust-based synthetic medium for each mushroom with various levels of selenium added by addition of appropriate amounts of sodium selenite prior to pasteurization and inoculation. Basidiomata were harvested from the treated substrates, weighed for yield determination, freeze-dried for solids determination, and then analyzed for selenium content using graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Yield of P. cornucopiae was not significantly affected by addition of selenium to the substrate, while yield and growing period of G. frondosa. was reduced when higher levels of selenium were added. Selenium increased in basidiomata of both mushrooms in direct response to levels added to the substrate, but greater uptake of selenium occurred with P. cornucopiae compared to G. frondosa. These results indicate that both mushrooms can be predictably enriched with selenium to become an excellent nutritional source of selenium but more selenium would need to be added to the substrate, used to grow G. frondosa., with the same level of selenium present in the basidiomata.
Distribution of the Hallucinogenic Mushroom Psilocybe antioquensis Guzmán et al. (Agaricomycetideae) in Colombia, Mexico, and Cambodia
85-89
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.110
John W.
Allen
P.O. Box 45164 Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
Prakitsin
Sihanonth
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10303, Thailand
Two new records from Mexico and one from Cambodia of the hallucinogenic mushroom Psilocybe antioquensis, originally known only from Colombia, are discussed. This fungus grows on soil in subtropical meadows, and it is defined by its subumbonate pileus, long pseudorhiza, ovate-subrhomboid thick-walled spores, and for their pleuro- and cheilocystidia. It belongs to the section Mexicanae in genus Psilocybe.
European Grain Moth Nemapogon granellus L. (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)—A New Potential Pest to the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curt.:Fr.) P. Karst. (Ling Zhi, Reishi)
91-94
10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v8.i1.120
Peter
Blaeser
Department of Entomology and Plant Protection, Institute for Phytopathology, University of Bonn, Nussalle 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Cetin
Sengonca
Department of Entomology and Plant Protection, Institute for Phytopathology, University of Bonn, Nussalle 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Jan I.
Lelley
GAMU Ltd. Institute for Mushroom Research,
Hüttenallee 241, D-47800 Krefeld, Germany
During the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal mushroom that was already used in TCM at the Institute for Mushroom Research of GAMU Ltd. (Germany), a moth was observed causing significant damage to the shoots of the fungus. The insect was identified as the European grain moth Nemapogon granellus L. (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae). The goal of this work was to investigate the biological and ecological characteristics as well the damage of this insect to G. lucidum, which has not yet been described in the scientific literature. During the investigations it was observed that adult moths laid their eggs in small groups of 6−15 each on the top of the shoots of G. lucidum. Immediately after hatching, the larvae (caterpillars) entered the top of the shoots and remained there during their entire life until the new adults appeared. From the laying of the eggs until the new generation of adults appeared, it took 5−6 weeks. The larvae entered the shoots of G. lucidum and bored straight, narrow ducts downward inside the shoots. The growth of such affected shoots was at first inhibited significantly, later these shoots died. The use of chemicals against the insect cannot be considered because of the use of G. lucidum as medicinal mushrooms as well as the inaccessibility of N. granellus. Protective measurements, on the other hand, such as carefully cleaning the cultivations facilities as well as preventing the entrance of the insects into the cultivation rooms, can help to avoid the damage.