Identification and evaluation of chemical constituents of pleurotus sajor-caju (fr.) singer extracts in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis / Gowri a/p Kanagasabapathy

Mushrooms have been valued throughout the world as both food and medicine for thousands of years. Pleurotus sajor-caju has become attractive as functional food and a source of physiologically beneficial substances. These functional characteristics are mainly due to their chemical composition thus the chemical compositions of P. sajor-caju were investigated in this study. Twenty-seven compounds have been separated and identified from the EAE and BE extracts of P. sajor-caju. EAE comprised of three methyl esters namely, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate and methyl linoleate, five hydrocarbon fatty acids namely, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid and linoleic acid, a phenolic compound identified as 2,4-ditertbutylphenol, six ethyl esters, namely ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl linolenate, ethyl stearate, ethyl linoleate and ethyl oleate and eight sterol compounds namely, lichesterol, 5,6-dihydroergosterol, neoergosterol, ergosta-5,8-dien-3-ol, 7-ergostenol, ergosta-5,18(14)-dien-2-ol, ergosta-5-en-3-ol and ergosterol. Cinnamic acid, nicotinamide, benzeneacetamide and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were identified in BE extract using GC-MS and NMR analysis. These fractions were then subjected to various antioxidant assays namely β-carotene bleaching, ferric reducing capability, ABTS radical scavenging ability, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and total phenolic content. The AE and BE extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activities and corresponds to the total phenolic content meanwhile the sub-fractions from the EAE extract (EP2, EP3, EP4 and EP5), showed moderate antioxidant activity. Hence, P. sajor-caju extracts can be considered as potential dietary antioxidants. Polysaccharide (GE) was isolated and purified using hot-water extraction method. The efficacy of GE on lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis was evaluated using the in-vitro and in-vivo models. Abstract iii In the in-vitro study using 3T3-L1 cell line, GE stimulated lipogenesis (lower concentrations) and lipolysis by up-regulating the expression of HSL, ATGL and leptin genes. Furthermore, GE also up-regulated the expression of adiponectin and GLUT-4 genes, indicates GE is able to enhance the glucose uptake efficiently. Finally, GE attenuated oxidative indices (protein and lipid damages) which may occur during glucose oxidation in 3T3-L1 cells. In the in-vivo study using C57BL/6J (ob/ob) mice fed a high-fat diet, GE treated groups significantly reduced the body weight and this is could be due to the up-regulation of HSL and ATGL genes in the adipose tissue which may have stimulated lipolysis while down-regulation of PPAR-γ, SREBP-1c and LPL genes may have decreased the differentiation of adipose tissue. Additionally, GE also improved the glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in the mice by up-regulating the expression of adiponectin and GLUT-4 genes. GE also attenuated the DNA, protein and lipid damages along with uric acid levels by increasing the enzymic antioxidants (SOD, CAT and GPx) content in the mice. Finally, GE down-regulated the expression of inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, SAA2, CRP and MCP-1) by inactivating the nuclear transcription factors (NF-κB) hence, the mice in GE treated groups were not insulin resistance and did not develop diabetes. Regular consumption of P. sajor-caju as a part of our diet may render nutritional benefits for preventing obesity and diabetes

Growth, spectral, thermal, mechanical, linear and nonlinear optical studies of divalent metal ions doped zinc tris-thiourea sulphate single crystals

193-198<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">Zinc tris-thiourea sulphate (ZTS) and divalent metal ions (Cd2+ and Ni2+) doped zinc tris-thiourea sulphate materials are synthesized from aqueous solution and single crystals are grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation technique. The unit cell parameters of the grown crystals are evaluated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns are recorded and indexed for further confirmation of crystalline nature of grown crystals. The presence of functional groups in the grown crystals has been confirmed by FTIR analysis. The incorporation of cadmium and nickel ions entered into ZTS crystals is confirmed from SEM-EDX analysis. TGA/DTA thermal analyses revealed that the materials have good thermal stability. Mechanical behaviour have been studied using Vicker’s microhardness measurements. UV-visible transmission spectra have been recorded in the spectral range 200-900 nm to find the cut-off wavelength and optical band gap Eg of grown crystals in non-linear applications. The nonlinear optical properties of pure and doped ZTS crystals were confirmed by Kurtz Perry powder method using Nd:YAG laser source.</span

Growth, spectral, thermal, mechanical, linear and nonlinear optical studies of divalent metal ions doped zinc tris-thiourea sulphate single crystals

Zinc tris-thiourea sulphate (ZTS) and divalent metal ions (Cd2+ and Ni2+) doped zinc tris-thiourea sulphate materials are synthesized from aqueous solution and single crystals are grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation technique. The unit cell parameters of the grown crystals are evaluated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns are recorded and indexed for further confirmation of crystalline nature of grown crystals. The presence of functional groups in the grown crystals has been confirmed by FTIR analysis. The incorporation of cadmium and nickel ions entered into ZTS crystals is confirmed from SEM-EDX analysis. TGA/DTA thermal analyses revealed that the materials have good thermal stability. Mechanical behaviour have been studied using Vicker’s microhardness measurements. UV-visible transmission spectra have been recorded in the spectral range 200-900 nm to find the cut-off wavelength and optical band gap Eg of grown crystals in non-linear applications. The nonlinear optical properties of pure and doped ZTS crystals were confirmed by Kurtz Perry powder method using Nd:YAG laser source

Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant and Potential Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Amauroderma rugosum is a wild mushroom that is worn as a necklace by the indigenous communities in Malaysia to prevent fits and incessant crying by babies. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritive composition and antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory effects of A. rugosum extracts on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Nutritional analysis of freeze-dried mycelia of A. rugosum (KUM 61131) from submerged culture indicated a predominant presence of carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibre, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. The ethanol crude extract (EE), its hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EAF), and aqueous (AF) fractions of mycelia of A. rugosum grown in submerged culture were evaluated for antioxidant potential and antiinflammatory effects. EAF exhibited the highest total phenolic content and the strongest antioxidant activity based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. HF showed dose-dependent inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and NO radical scavenging activity. Gas chromatographic analysis of HF revealed the presence of ethyl linoleate and ergosterol, compounds with known anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, the nutritive compositions and significant antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory effects of mycelia extracts of A. rugosum have the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent or adjuvant in the management of inflammatory disorders

An Overview of Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms in Neurodegeneration and Neurotrauma Research

Culinary and medicinal mushrooms have been appreciated since prehistoric times as valuable resources for food and medicine. Edible mushrooms represent an untapped source of nutraceuticals and valuable palatable food. Long considered tonics, they are now treasured as functional foods that can improve human health and quality of life. Numerous studies have provided insights into the neuroprotective effects of edible mushrooms, which are attributed to their antioxidant, antineuroinflammatory, and cholinesterase inhibitory properties, and their ability to prevent neuronal death. Here we review the recent literature on the role of culinary and medicinal mushrooms in the management of neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma. We highlight some of the molecular mechanisms for how these alternative medicines provide health benefits that could help us to harness their neuroprotective effects