Diversity, nutritional composition and medicinal potential of Indian mushrooms: A review

Mushrooms are the higher fungi which have long been used for food and medicinal purposes. They have rich nutritional value with high protein content (up to 44.93%), vitamins, minerals, fibers, trace elements and low calories and lack cholesterol. There are 14,000 known species of mushrooms of which 2,000 are safe for human consumption and about 650 of these possess medicinal properties. Among the total known mushrooms, approximately 850 species are recorded from India. Many of them have been used in food and folk medicine for thousands of years. Mushrooms are also sources of bioactive substances including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antitumour, anti-HIV and antidiabetic activities. Nutriceuticals and medicinal mushrooms have been used in human health development in India as food, medicine, minerals among others. The present review aims to update the current status of mushrooms diversity in India with their nutritional and medicinal potential as well as ethnomedicinal uses for different future prospects in pharmaceutical application.Keywords: Mushroom diversity, nutritional value, therapeutic potential, bioactive compoundAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(4), pp. 523-545, 22 January, 201

Optimization of bioethanol production from saccharified sweet potato root flour by co-fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia sp. using OVAT and response surface methodologies

In recent years with the increase in price of fossil fuels, the demand of biofuel production from tuber crops such as sweet potato has become very important to meet the future energy crisis in developing countries. In the present study, fermentation of saccharified sweet potato root flour (SPRF) was carried out using co-culture of cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia sp. in immobilized condition for bioethanol production. Various growth parameters like incubation time, fermentation medium pH, incubation temperature and inoculum size were initially optimized using one variable at a time (OVAT) methodology. Then, temperature, pH and incubation time were found to be the most favorable variables for the maximum ethanol production with Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum ethanol yield of 127.2 ± 2 g/kg of SPRF was obtained at pH 5 with an incubation period of 72 h at 30 °C by OVAT methodology. RSM further enhanced the bioethanol yield to 138.6 ± 3 g/kg of SPRF with an overall increase of 8.22% as compared to the OVAT method

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB">In Vitro</span></i><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB"> bioactive potential of an ethnomedicinal mangrove plant, (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Heritiera fomes</i> Buch. Ham.) from Odisha Coast, India</span>

704-713Heritiera fomes, a mangrove species occurring in mangrove forest along Odisha coast, India is known for its ethnomedicinal uses for the treatment of gastrointestinal, hepatic and skin diseases etc. All the four solvent (acetone, ethanol, methanol and aqueous) extracts of leaf and stem powder showed antibacterial activity (11 mm to 22 mm) at 50 mg/ml concentration.  Leaf extracts possess better antioxidant properties (90% scavenging) as compared to stem extracts with dose dependency.  Phytochemical screening of extracts showed the presence of phenols, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids etc. Overall results indicated that extracts of H. fomes might be applicable in natural medicine and pharmaceutical industries for drug discovery.</span

Docking Studies of Hispolon Mediated Human NF-κβ Inhibition and In-Silico Development of Hispolon Derivatives Towards Cancer Treatment

In-silico drug designing for better anticancer therapeutics targeting human NF-κB, a pivotal enzyme involved in cancer regulating pathway. Hispolon, a black hoof mushroom (Phellinus linteus) or shaggy bracket mushroom (Inonotus hispidus) derived polyphenolic compound is structurally homologous with Curcumin and possess the NF-κB inhibitory efficiency as an anticancer agent. However, the in-silico studies related to Hispolon mediated inhibition of NF-κB activity and its mechanism of action has not yet been investigated so far. The present paper reports in-silico studies carried out to investigate the detailed mechanism of Hispolon mediated inhibition of NF-κB and designing of new potent derivatives of Hispolon having anticancer activity. Docking, Binding free energy analysis, Drug designing ADMET and IC50 has been performed for the fulfilment of above mentioned objective. DRG2 compound (ΔG= -30.180 kcal/mol) is the most potent in binding with human NF-κB among all 10 designed Hispolon derivatives. Met469 and Glu470 of human NF-κB makes an additional interaction with one of the hydrogen atom of 5-methoxy group of ligand’s benzene ring. Methoxy group placed on the -ortho and two -para position of benzene ring and the –meta positioned hydroxyl group of the compound plays crucial role in strengthening the binding energy with human NF-κB. ADMET analysis also confirmed the drug-likeness and efficiency of DRG2 with NF-κB. In-depth structural, molecular modelling, docking and binding energy studies helps to redesign Hispolon to better compound that might have some additional inhibitory effect on human NF-κB thus can be used as anticancer therapeutics

Bioethanol production from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) flour using co-culture of Trichoderma sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in solid-state fermentation

The aim of this work was to study the optimiation of co-culturing of Trichoderma sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1:4 ratio) on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) flour (SPF) for the production of bio-ethanol in solid-state fermentation (SSF). Maximum ethanol (172 g/kg substrate) was produced in a medium containing 80% moisture, ammonium sulphate 0.2%, pH 5.0, inoculuted with 10% inoculum size and fermented at 30ºC for 72h. .Concomitant with highest ethanol concentration, maximum ethanol productivity (2.8 g/kg substrate/h), microbial biomass (23×10(8) CFU/ g substrate), ethanol yield (47 g/100g sugar consumed) and fermentation efficiency (72%) were also obtained under these conditions. Cell interaction was observed familiar between the viable cells of Trichoderma sp. and S. cerevisiae when co-cultured. Ethanol production ability by the co-culture was 65 % higher than the single culture of S. cerevisiae from un-saccharified SPF

Metagenomics insights into Cr(VI) effects on structural and functional diversity of bacterial community in chromite mine soils of Sukinda Valley, Odisha

Soil contamination with heavy metal like chromium is a wide-spread environmental problem in mining and its periphery areas causing hazard to the plant, animal and human. Bacterial communities which resist the toxic effect of Cr(VI) can only survive under this hostile condition. In the study assessment of structural diversity of bacterial communities from four different locations of chromite mines area of Sukinda, Odisha (India) were carried out with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of V3 regions using illuminaMiSeq and functional diversity analysis from in situ mining site with whole genome metagenomics using illuminaHiSeq. The taxonomic classification was carried out through QIIME program. The samples differed from each other, both in terms of level of contamination and soil characteristics. The variations in pH were small (6.67-7.32) between the mine soils from in situ and overburden sites in comparison to forest soil (5.08). The forest soil contains higher amount of available N and K as well as organic carbon as compared to both the mine soils. Heavy metals like Fe, Cr, Ni, and Cd have been detected in higher concentrations in in situ sites than both overburden and forest soil samples. Whereas concentration of other heavy metals like Co and Mn is high in overburden than in situ and forest soil. In spite of the differences between the samples, they shared many common operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and it was possible to delineate the core microbiome of the soil samples. In general, Actinobacteria were the most dominant phyla with abundance of Deltaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria within the soils. Certain bacterial genera like Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Clostridium and Corynebacterium were found to be predominant in in situ mining sites, whereas genera like Nitrospira, DA101, JG37-AG-70 and Nitrospira and DA101 were found to be abundant in overburden and forest soil respectively. In in situ soil, the bacterial genes are involved in membrane transport, DNA metabolism, Iron acquisition and metabolism, secondary metabolism, motility and chemotaxis. The results of this study add valuable information about the composition as well as structure and function of bacterial communities in chromite mine area soils and shed light on possible bioremediation transformations promoted by bacterial communities

Free radical scavenging potential of four ethnomedicinally important mangrove plants along Odisha coast, India

2189-2197In the present study an attempt has been made to make a comparative evaluation of four selected ethnomedicinally important mangrove plants (Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba, Acanthus ilicifolius and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Phoenix paludosa) from mangrove forest along Odisha coast, India for their antioxidant properties.  Results showed that all the plant extracts showed strong DPPH and Nitric oxide scavenging properties which increased with increase in the concentration of the plant extract. Among the plants, the leaf samples are the best source of antioxidant and P. paludosa is comparatively rich in natural antioxidant. </span

Structural and Functional Characterization of Two <i>Pennisetum</i> sp. Biomass during Ultrasono-Assisted Alkali Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis for Understanding the Mechanism of Targeted Delignification and Enhanced Saccharification

The recalcitrance offered by lignocellulose to get converted into simple sugars makes its conversion process complicated, hence pretreatment is required prior to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Ultrasonication-assisted alkali pretreatment (UA-NaOH) was found to be an effective pretreatment for delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis of denanath grass (DG) and hybrid napier grasses (HNG) in terms of maximum delignification and reducing sugar production. To determine the mechanism of pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis, the structural and functional characterization of native and pretreated grass biomass were investigated using SEM (scanning electron microscope), FT-IR (Fourier transformation infrared) spectroscopy, TGA (thermal gravimetric analysis), DSC (differential scanning) spectroscopy, and solid state ¹³C CP/MAS NMR (cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. The surface erosions, distorted surface morphology and deconstruction of the cell wall components of the <i>Pennisetum</i> sp. were detected by SEM. The differences in the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds that make the crystalline and amorphous regions in the cellulose were detected by FT-IR. While TGA studies revealed higher phenolic content in untreated grass biomass, DSC patterns indicated the formation of laevoglucose in DG pretreated samples. Interestingly, the NMR studies revealed the presence of maximum aliphatic lignin components with absence of the aromatic lignins in both DG and HNG samples. NMR results also showed the presence of maximum hexosans and xylans revealing that the presence of aliphatic lignin components could be a helpful way of retaining the monosaccharides

Diversity and seasonal fluctuation of predominant microbial communities in Bhitarkanika, a tropical mangrove ecosystem in India

Different groups of microorganisms are present in mangrove areas, and they perform complex interactions for nutrient and ecological balances. Since little is known about microbial populations in mangroves, this study analyzed the microbial community structure and function in relation to soil physico-chemical properties in Bhitarkanika, a tropical mangrove ecosystem in India. Spatial and seasonal fluctuations of thirteen important groups of microorganisms were evaluated from the mangrove forest sediments during different seasons, along with soil physico-chemical parameters. The overall microbial load (x10(5)cfu/g soil) in soil declined in the order of heterotrophic, free living N2 fixing, Gram-negative nitrifying, sulphur oxidizing, Gram-positive, spore forming, denitrifying, anaerobic, phosphate solubilizing, cellulose degrading bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Populations of the heterotrophic, phosphate solubilizing, sulphur oxidizing bacteria and fungi were more represented in the rainy season, while, Gram-negative, Gram-positive, nitrifying, denitrifying, cellulose decomposing bacteria and actinomycetes in the winter season. The pool size of most of other microbes either declined or maintained throughout the season. Soil nutrients such as N, P, K (Kg/ha) and total C (%) contents were higher in the rainy season and they did not follow any common trend of changes throughout the study period. Soil pH and salinity (mS/cm) varied from 6-8 and 6.4-19.5, respectively, and they normally affected the microbial population dynamics. Determination of bacterial diversity in Bhitarkanika mangrove soil by culture method showed the predominance of bacterial genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Desulfotomaculum, Desulfovibrio, Desulfomonas, Methylococcus, Vibrio, Micrococcus, Klebsiella and Azotobacter. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a correlation among local environmental variables with the sampling locations on the microbial community in the mangrove soil. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 909-924. Epub 2012 June 01.En las zonas de manglares están presentes diferentes grupos de microorganismos, los cuales presentan complejas interacciones que afectan los balances ecológicos y de nutrientes. Debido a que se sabe poco sobre las poblaciones microbianas en los manglares, este estudio analiza la estructura y función de la comunidad microbiana según las propiedades físico-químicas del suelo en Bhitarkanika, un ecosistema de manglares tropicales en la India. Se evaluaron las fluctuaciones espaciales y temporales de 13 grupos de microorganismos importantes en el sedimento de los manglares durante diferentes temporadas y parámetros físico-químicos del suelo. La carga microbiana total (x10(5)cfu/g de suelo) en el suelo se redujo en la categoría de las heterotróficas, de las bacterias libres fijadoras de N2, Gram-negativas nitrificantes, oxidativas de azufre, Gram-positivas, formadoras de esporas, desnitrificantes, anaeróbicas, las solubilizadoras de fosfato, bacterias degradadoras de celulosa, hongos y actinomicetos. Las poblaciones de heterótrofos, solubilizadoras de fosfato, oxidativas de azufre y los hongos estuvieron más representadas en la temporada lluviosa, mientras que, las Gram-negativas y Gram-positivas, nitrificantes, desnitrificantes, descomponedoras de celulosa y los actinomicetos, en la temporada de invierno. El tamaño poblacional de otros microorganismos disminuyó o se mantuvo durante toda la temporada. Los nutrientes del suelo, tales como N, P, K (Kg/ha) y el contenido total de C (%) fueron mayores en la temporada de lluvias, y no siguieron ninguna tendencia común de cambio a través del período de estudio. El pH del suelo y la salinidad (mS/cm) variaron de 6-8 y 6.4-19.5, respectivamente, lo que afectó significativamente la dinámica de la población microbiana. La determinación de la diversidad de bacterias en el suelo del manglar Bhitarkanika por el método de cultivo mostró el predominio de los géneros de bacterias como Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Desulfotomaculum, Desulfovibrio, Desulfomonas, Methylococcus, Vibrio, Micrococcus, Klebsiella y Azotobacter. El análisis de componentes principales (ACP) reveló una correlación entre las variables locales del ambiente y los sitios de muestreo en la comunidad microbiana en el suelo del manglar

Diversity and seasonal fluctuation of predominant microbial communities in Bhitarkanika, a tropical mangrove ecosystem in India

Different groups of microorganisms are present in mangrove areas, and they perform complex interactions for nutrient and ecological balances. Since little is known about microbial populations in mangroves, this study analyzed the microbial community structure and function in relation to soil physico-chemical properties in Bhitarkanika, a tropical mangrove ecosystem in India. Spatial and seasonal fluctuations of thirteen important groups of microorganisms were evaluated from the mangrove forest sediments during different seasons, along with soil physico-chemical parameters. The overall microbial load (x105cfu/g soil) in soil declined in the order of heterotrophic, free living N2 fixing, Gram-negative nitrifying, sulphur oxidizing, Gram-positive, spore form- ing, denitrifying, anaerobic, phosphate solubilizing, cellulose degrading bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Populations of the heterotrophic, phosphate solubilizing, sulphur oxidizing bacteria and fungi were more represented in the rainy season, while, Gram-negative, Gram-positive, nitrifying, denitrifying, cellulose decomposing bacteria and actinomycetes in the winter season. The pool size of most of other microbes either declined or maintained throughout the season. Soil nutrients such as N, P, K (Kg/ha) and total C (%) contents were higher in the rainy season and they did not follow any common trend of changes throughout the study period. Soil pH and salinity (mS/cm) varied from 6-8 and 6.4-19.5, respectively, and they normally affected the microbial population dynamics. Determination of bacterial diversity in Bhitarkanika mangrove soil by culture method showed the predominance of bacterial genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Desulfotomaculum, Desulfovibrio, Desulfomonas, Methylococcus, Vibrio, Micrococcus, Klebsiella and Azotobacter. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a correlation among local environmental variables with the sampling locations on the microbial community in the mangrove soil.En las zonas de manglares están presentes diferentes grupos de microorganismos, los cuales presentan complejas interacciones que afectan los balances ecológicos y de nutrientes. Debido a que se sabe poco sobre las poblaciones microbianas en los manglares, este estudio analiza la estructura y función de la comunidad microbiana según las propiedades físico-químicas del suelo en Bhitarkanika, un ecosistema de manglares tropicales en la India. Se evaluaron las fluctuaciones espaciales y temporales de 13 grupos de microorganismos importantes en el sedimento de los manglares durante diferentes temporadas y parámetros físico-químicos del suelo. La carga microbiana total (x105cfu/g de suelo) en el suelo se redujo en la categoría de las heterotróficas, de las bacterias libres fijadoras de N2, Gram-negativas nitrificantes, oxidativas de azufre, Gram-positivas, formadoras de esporas, desnitrificantes, anaeróbicas, las solubilizadoras de fosfato, bacterias degradadoras de celulosa, hongos y actinomicetos. Las poblacio- nes de heterótrofos, solubilizadoras de fosfato, oxidativas de azufre y los hongos estuvieron más representadas en la temporada lluviosa, mientras que, las Gram-negativas y Gram-positivas, nitrificantes, desnitrificantes, descomponedoras de celulosa y los actinomicetos, en la temporada de invierno. El tamaño poblacional de otros microorganismos disminuyó o se mantuvo durante toda la temporada. Los nutrientes del suelo, tales como N, P, K (Kg/ha) y el contenido total de C (%) fueron mayores en la temporada de lluvias, y no siguieron ninguna tendencia común de cambio a través del período de estudio. El pH del suelo y la salinidad (mS/cm) variaron de 6-8 y 6.4-19.5, respectivamente, lo que afectó significativamente la dinámica de la población microbiana. La determinación de la diversidad de bacterias en el suelo del manglar Bhitarkanika por el método de cultivo mostró el predominio de los géneros de bacterias como Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Desulfotomaculum, Desulfovibrio, Desulfomonas, Methylococcus, Vibrio, Micrococcus, Klebsiella y Azotobacter. El análisis de componentes principales (ACP) reveló una correlación entre las variables locales del ambiente y los sitios de muestreo en la comunidad microbiana en el suelo del manglar