Indian Medicinal Mushrooms as a Source of Antioxidant and Antitumor Agents

Medicinal mushrooms occurring in South India namely Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus rimosus, Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus pulmonaris possessed profound antioxidant and antitumor activities. This indicated that these mushrooms would be valuable sources of antioxidant and antitumor compounds. Investigations also revealed that they had significant antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. Thus, Indian medicinal mushrooms are potential sources of antioxidant and anticancer compounds. However, intensive and extensive investigations are needed to exploit their valuable therapeutic use

MEDICINAL MUSHROOM BIOACTIVES: POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR ANTI-CANCER DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Mushrooms represent a major yet largely untapped source of therapeutically useful bioactive compounds. Despite mushrooms were in use since antiquity in traditional folk medicine attempts to isolate their bioactive components and to elucidate their medicinal properties have started only recently. Many pharmaceutical substances with unique properties were recently extracted from mushrooms and made their way all over the world. A number of medicinal mushrooms have been identified to possess anticancer effects recently. Some of the well-known examples are Lentinan from Lentinus edodes, Krestin from Trametes versicolor, Ganopoly from Ganoderma lucidum and Schizophyllan from Schizophyllum commune. We investigated the anticancer activities of a number of medicinal mushrooms in our laboratory. Some of the recent scientific evdences on the anticancer activities of Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus rimosus, and Fomitopsis pinicola are discussed in this short review

Bioactive extract of mycelia biomass of Ganoderma lucidum protects doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy

Cardiotoxicity induced by anticancer drug; doxorubicin (DOX) is a limiting factor for its prolonged use in chemotherapy. No effective drug is currently available to prevent DOX induced cardiomyopathy. Ganoderma lucidum is highly valued medicinal mushroom used in traditional medicine. Mycelia biomasses are considered as alternate sources of mushroom bioactive compounds. We examined the effect of bioactive extract of G. lucidum mycelia biomass (GLME) to prevent cardiotoxicity induced by DOX in rats using a cumulative dose 18 mg/kg body wt. GLME was administered to animals at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body wt. once daily for five days prior to DOX administration and continued for three more days. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last dose of drug. Activities of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), endogenous antioxidant status, oxidative stress markers, electrocardiograph (ECG) and haematological parameters were evaluated. DOX administration drastically elevated CK, LDH, myocardial peroxidation and oxidative stress and significantly lowered endogenous antioxidant activity. GLME administration attenuated elevated levels of CK, LDH and oxidative stress and also ameliorated alterations in haematological and ECG parameters. Results revealed that bioactive extract of G. lucidum mycelia imparted significant protection against DOX induced cardiomyopathy suggesting the potential therapeutic significance of G. lucidum mycelia bioactives to alleviate DOX induced cardiomyopathy

Cocos nucifera L. inflorescence extract: An effective hepatoprotective agent

The flowering inflorescence of Cocos nucifera, a main constituent of several traditional drug formulations was investigated with a view to study the effect of the acetone extract of C. nucifera inflorescence (CnAE) on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract are found to be 222.6 µg gallic acid equivalent/g and 120.8 µg quercetin equivalent/g, respectively. The LD50 value was >5000 mg/kg b.w. The antioxidant activity was assessed using three methods, namely, 2,2’- diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl assay, 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and the IC50 values were found to be 65.72, 66.94 and 89.84 μg/mL, respectively. Effect of CnAE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) and silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w.) against acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats. The study showed that CnAE pre-treated groups remarkably prevented the increase in serum alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase level and decrease in the level of liver superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidise. The extract also suppressed the elevated level of malondialdehyde. The biochemical determinations supported the histopathological examination and blood parameter findings. The findings of our study indicated that the phenolic-rich CnAE could be an interesting alternative candidate against acetaminophen-induced hepato-toxicity and associated oxidative stress

Cocos nucifera L. inflorescence extract: An effective hepatoprotective agent

128-136The flowering inflorescence of Cocos nucifera, a main constituent of several traditional drug formulations was investigated with a view to study the effect of the acetone extract of C. nucifera inflorescence (CnAE) on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract are found to be 222.6 µg gallic acid equivalent/g and 120.8 µg quercetin equivalent/g, respectively. The LD50 value was >5000 mg/kg b.w. The antioxidant activity was assessed using three methods, namely, 2,2’- diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl assay, 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and the IC50 values were found to be 65.72, 66.94 and 89.84 μg/mL, respectively. Effect of CnAE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) and silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w.) against acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats. The study showed that CnAE pre-treated groups remarkably prevented the increase in serum alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase level and decrease in the level of liver superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidise. The extract also suppressed the elevated level of malondialdehyde. The biochemical determinations supported the histopathological examination and blood parameter findings. The findings of our study indicated that the phenolic-rich CnAE could be an interesting alternative candidate against acetaminophen-induced hepato-toxicity and associated oxidative stress

Citostatsko i protuupalno djelovanje polisaharida biljke Ganoderma lucidum

In this study, polysaccharides were isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae) and their antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using in vivo models. Potential antitumor activity was shown by G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) against solid tumor induced by Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma cells. GLP at 100 mg kg–1 body mass showed 80.8 and 77.6 % reduction in tumour volume and tumour mass, respectively, when administered 24 h after tumour implantation. Again, GLP at the same dose but when administered prior to tumour inoculation, showed 79.5 and 81.2 % inhibition of tumour volume and tumour mass, respectively. GLP showed significant dose-dependent activity in carrageenean-induced (acute) and formalin-induced (chronic) inflammation assays. At 100 mg kg–1, GLP exhibited 57.6 and 58.2 % inhibition in carrageenean-induced and formalin-induced assays, respectively.U radu je ispitano in vivo citostatsko i protuupalno djelovanje polisaharida (GLP) izoliranih iz biljke Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae). Ispitivani polisaharidi pokazali su potencijalno antitumorsko djelovanje na Ehrlichov ascitesni tumor. GLP su u dozi od 100 mg kg1 tjelesne mase inhibirali volumen tumora za 80,8, a njegovu masu za 77,6 %, kada su primijenjeni 24 h nakon implantacije tumora. Ako se GLP daju u istoj dozi prije inokulacije tumora, inhibiraju volumen tumora za 79,5, a njegovu masu za 81,2 %. GLP pokazuju značajno, o dozi ovisno, protuupalno djelovanje u karagenan testu (akutna upala) i formalin testu (kronična upala). U dozi od 100 mg kg1, GLP inhibiraju upalne procese za 57,6 odnosno 58,2 % u testu s karagenanom, odnosno formalinom

Citostatsko i protuupalno djelovanje polisaharida biljke Ganoderma lucidum

In this study, polysaccharides were isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae) and their antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using in vivo models. Potential antitumor activity was shown by G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) against solid tumor induced by Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma cells. GLP at 100 mg kg–1 body mass showed 80.8 and 77.6 % reduction in tumour volume and tumour mass, respectively, when administered 24 h after tumour implantation. Again, GLP at the same dose but when administered prior to tumour inoculation, showed 79.5 and 81.2 % inhibition of tumour volume and tumour mass, respectively. GLP showed significant dose-dependent activity in carrageenean-induced (acute) and formalin-induced (chronic) inflammation assays. At 100 mg kg–1, GLP exhibited 57.6 and 58.2 % inhibition in carrageenean-induced and formalin-induced assays, respectively.U radu je ispitano in vivo citostatsko i protuupalno djelovanje polisaharida (GLP) izoliranih iz biljke Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae). Ispitivani polisaharidi pokazali su potencijalno antitumorsko djelovanje na Ehrlichov ascitesni tumor. GLP su u dozi od 100 mg kg1 tjelesne mase inhibirali volumen tumora za 80,8, a njegovu masu za 77,6 %, kada su primijenjeni 24 h nakon implantacije tumora. Ako se GLP daju u istoj dozi prije inokulacije tumora, inhibiraju volumen tumora za 79,5, a njegovu masu za 81,2 %. GLP pokazuju značajno, o dozi ovisno, protuupalno djelovanje u karagenan testu (akutna upala) i formalin testu (kronična upala). U dozi od 100 mg kg1, GLP inhibiraju upalne procese za 57,6 odnosno 58,2 % u testu s karagenanom, odnosno formalinom

Bioactive extracts of fruiting bodies and cultured mycelia biomass of elm Oyster mushroom Hypsizygus ulmarius (Bull.:Fr.) alleviate alcohol-induced hepatic injury in Wistar rats

444-450Hepatic injury is a common presentation of chronic alcohol intake. Alcohol liver diseases lead to a spectrum of diseases, including fatty liver, hepatitis and cirrhosis. Currently, no ideal treatment is available for this condition. Natural products and their derivatives are considered promising hepatoprotective agents. Mushrooms are considered a delicacy and rich source of bioactive compounds. Hence, we examined the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous ethanolic extracts of an edible mushroom, Hypsizygus ulmarius and its cultured mycelia. Hepatic damages were induced by oral administration of ethanol (36%, 2 mL/ 100 g body weight) for 30 days. Silymarin (100 mg/Kg body weight) was used as a standard reference drug. Administration of ethanol significantly elevated serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase. Treatment with the bioactive extracts of fruiting bodies and cultured mycelia significantly down-regulated activities of liver injury maker enzymes and elevated activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase, and reduced the level of malondialdehyde in hepatic tissue. Histopathological observations of hepatic tissue, such as reduction in centrilobular necrosis, fatty infiltration and lymphocytic infiltration, also supported the protective effect of the extracts. The results thus indicated that bioactive extracts of H. ulmarius and its mycelia possessed a significant protective effect against alcohol-induced liver toxicity in Wistar rats. The findings suggested the potential therapeutic use of this edible mushroom for ameliorating alcohol-induced liver injury