Investigation of oil palm empty fruit bunches in biosoda pulping by tropical white-rot fungi, Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat.

Ganoderma australe, a white-rot fungus, is well-known as a decomposer of logs and stumps in the Malaysian forest. We investigated G. australe (KUM60848) strain for production of ligninolytic enzymes i.e. lignin peroxidase (LiP) and laccase, and hydrolytic enzymes, i.e. cellulase and xylanase, using oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) in solid-substrate fermentation (SSF). EFB was shown to support good mycelial growth for G. australe during 28 days of solid-substrate fermentation. All tested enzyme activities demonstrated highest activities of LiP (0.18±0.02 U/ml), laccase (1.92±0.03 U/ml), cellulase (0.72±0.11 U/ml) and xylanase (0.42±0.01 U/ml) throughout the 28 days of incubation. Compared to an untreated control, the pretreated EFB yield increased to a maximum of 18% during biopulping. Fourteen days of SSF had the highest degree of material dissolved, as shown by pulp yields and the optimum values (29.8 Nm/g tensile index and 2.73 Kpa m2/g burst index) acceptable to obtain paper sheets

Antimicrobial activities of split gill mushroom Schizophyllum commune Fr

Abstract Schizophyllum commune or commonly known as split gill mushroom is a widely distributed wooddecaying basidiomycete that has been reported for its health promoting and medical benefits. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of S. commune extracts using well diffusion method. The microorganisms tested were common pathogenic bacteria

Strain improvement of a hypolipidemic yellow oyster mushroom, pleurotus citrinopileatus by mating technique

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) are cultivated widely and at present ranked second to the button mushroom in production. Pleurotus citrinopileatus (Yellow oyster mushroom) possessed antioxidants, antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties' that can be a good source of therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The sporophores has an attractive shape and bright yellow colour, however, the texture is very fragile and has a strong aroma, which is not preferred by consumers, Hence, the present study was conducted with the objective of improving the texture, aroma and yield of P. citrinopileatus by interspecies mating using uninucleate monokaryotic cell of P. citrinopileattis and P. pulrnonarius. Ten uninucleate monokaryotic cultures of parental were crossed in all combinations to obtain hybrids, Three compatible pairs of isolates with good colony characters such as thick mycelial mat and fast growth were selected for evaluation of morphological characteristics and yield performance by growing on sawdust fruiting substrates in polyethylene bags. Morphological characters of three new hybrids selected exhibited high yielding sporophore characteristics i.e. improved colour, aroma, texture and yield. Hence, interspecies hybrids obtained by mating technique can lead to better strains of mushrooms for genetic improvement in the family ~Ieurotus

<i style="">Lentinula edodes</i> (Shiitake) mushroom extract protects against hydrogen peroxide induced cytotoxicty in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

161-165Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler, commonly known as Shiitake mushroom has been used as medicinal food in Asian countries, especially in China and Japan and is believed to possess strong immunomodulatory property. In the present study, the methanolic extract of the fruit bodies of L. edodes was investigated for cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by measuring the activities of xanthine oxidase (XO) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) . H2O2 at a concentration of 5 μM caused 50% inhibition of PBMCs viability. The extract improved the PBMC viability and exerted a dose-dependent protection against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. At 100 μg/ml of extract concentration, the cell viability increased by 60% compared with the PBMCs incubated with H2O2 alone. The extract also inhibited XO activity in PBMC, while showing moderate stimulatory effect on GPx. However, in the presence of H2O2 alone, both the enzyme activities were increased significantly. The GPx activity increased, possibly in response to the increased availability of H2O2 in the cell. When the cells were pretreated with the extract and washed (to remove the extract) prior to the addition of H2O2, the GPx and XO activities as well as the cell viability were comparable to those when incubated with the extract alone. Thus, it is suggested that one of the possible mechanisms via which L. edodes methanolic extract confers protection against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in PBMC is by inhibiting the superoxide-producing XO and increasing GPx activity which could rapidly inactivate H2O2

<i style="">Lentinula edodes</i> (Shiitake) mushroom extract protects against hydrogen peroxide induced cytotoxicty in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

161-165Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler, commonly known as Shiitake mushroom has been used as medicinal food in Asian countries, especially in China and Japan and is believed to possess strong immunomodulatory property. In the present study, the methanolic extract of the fruit bodies of L. edodes was investigated for cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by measuring the activities of xanthine oxidase (XO) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) . H2O2 at a concentration of 5 μM caused 50% inhibition of PBMCs viability. The extract improved the PBMC viability and exerted a dose-dependent protection against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. At 100 μg/ml of extract concentration, the cell viability increased by 60% compared with the PBMCs incubated with H2O2 alone. The extract also inhibited XO activity in PBMC, while showing moderate stimulatory effect on GPx. However, in the presence of H2O2 alone, both the enzyme activities were increased significantly. The GPx activity increased, possibly in response to the increased availability of H2O2 in the cell. When the cells were pretreated with the extract and washed (to remove the extract) prior to the addition of H2O2, the GPx and XO activities as well as the cell viability were comparable to those when incubated with the extract alone. Thus, it is suggested that one of the possible mechanisms via which L. edodes methanolic extract confers protection against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in PBMC is by inhibiting the superoxide-producing XO and increasing GPx activity which could rapidly inactivate H2O2