Immunomodulatory and cytotoxic properties of central European Polypores

Nel corso del presente studio sull’attività biologica di funghi, che crescono in Repubblica Ceca o generalemnte nell’Europa Centrale, sono state testate le attività fagocitica e citotossica di 28 specie fungine appartenenti alla famiglia delle Polyporaceae. Degli estratti etanolici dei funghi è stato testato il loro effetto stimolante o soppressivo sull’attività fagocitica dei granulociti neutrofili; quest’ultima è stata studiata mediante misurazioni della chemiluminescenza, innescata con l’aggiunta di una sospensione contenente particelle di zymosan opsonizzate. Alcuni estratti hanno mostrato effetti sulla fagocitosi, valutata come aumento del picco della luminescenza, dell’area e della pendenza della curva, paragonati ad un controllo non trattato. Inoltre, la citotossicità è stata valutata su due linee cellulari di adenocarcinoma del colon (Caco-2 e HT-29) utilizzando un saggio MTT (test colorimetrico). I risultati ottenuti indicano che 5 delle specie fungine testate stimolano la fagocitosi (O. ptychogater, P. betulinus, P. squamosus, T. gibbosa e T. fissilis). Il massimo effetto è stato osservato nel caso di T. fissilis, ed è stato del 205 % (relativo ad un controllo non trattato= 100 %). Solo poche specie hanno mostrato tossicità sulle linee cellulari considerate. Di tutti gli estratti che hanno mostrato un’interessante attività fagocitica, solo P. squamosus risulta, dalla letteratura, essere edibile. Esso risulta essere quindi, un buon candidato, soddisfacendo i criteri di commestibilità, presentando bassa tossicità e dimostrando azione immunomodulante in-vitro con un valore del PIslope di 141 ± 8% (in relazione al controllo = 100%). Questa specie può essere considerata un buon candidato per l’utilizzo negli integratori alimentari immunomodulanti o nelle industrie farmaceutiche. In conclusione, il nostro studio ha confermato le proprietà medicinali dei funghi Polyporales; molti di essi sono utilizzati nei medicinali tradizionali a base di erbe. In the course of our investigations on biologically activities from mushroomsgrowing in the Czech Republic or generally in the Central Europe, we studied the phagocytic and cytotoxic properties of 28 species belonging to the family of Polyporaceae. Ethanolic extracts from the mushrooms were tested on their effect to stimulate or suppress phagocytic activity of neutrophil granulocytes towards opsonized zymosan particles was measured by the chemiluminescent assay. Some extracts showed an effect on the activity of granulocytes when evaluated in terms of the height of the luminescence peak, the area under the curve, the slope of the curve at the untreated control. Besides, cytotoxicity of all extracts was screened in two adenocarcinoma cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29) using a standard MTT antiproliferative assay. Our results indicate that five of the mushroom tested stimulated phagocytosis (O. ptychogaster, P. betulinus, P. squamosus, T. gibbosa and T. fissilis). The highest effect was seen in case of T. fissilis and was 205% (related to the untreated control = 100%). Only few samples showed marked toxicity against the cell lines. Out of all potent extracts, P. squamosus mushroom has literature indications of being edible, and thus is a good candidate fulfilling criteria on edibility, low toxicity while exhibiting immunomodulatory action in vitro with PIslope value of 141±8 % (related to the control = 100%). This species may be considered as a candidate to be used in immunomodulatory food supplements or in pharmaceutical industries. In conclusion, our study confirmed medicinal properties of Polyporales mushrooms; many of them are used in traditional herbal medicines

In vitro immunomodulatory activity, cytotoxicity and chemistry of some central European polypores

Context: Some mushrooms of the order Polyporales are known for their immunomodulatory actions. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the in vitro phagocytic and cytotoxic effects of extracts from polyporales native to Central Europe. Materials and methods: The effects of ethanol extracts from 27 polypore species on opsonized zymosan-induced phagocytosis of isolated human neutrophils were tested by a chemiluminescence method. Colon epithelial cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29, were used for cytotoxicity assays, and extracts were chemically characterized in terms of total phenolic and β-glucan content. Results: We observed phagocytosis or respiratory burst enhancing activity in 17 extracts, of which five species, namely Aurantiporus fissilis (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) H. Jahn ex Ryvarden, Trametes gibbosa (Pers.) Fr., Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.) P. Karst, Neolentinus lepideus (Fr.) Redhead & Ginns, Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr., significantly increased phagocytosis in granulocytes by 205, 181, 158, 155 and 141%, respectively. The β-glucan content of the three most potent extracts was 58, 42 and 74 mg/g, respectively, and the polyphenol content was 155.6, 133.5 and 155.2 μmol of gallic acid equivalent/g, respectively. Some extracts showed cytotoxic activity, with higher cytotoxicity in Caco-2 than in HT-29 cells. Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Jacq.) P. Karst. extract was cytotoxic to both cell lines, with IC50 values of 81 and 31 μg/mL, respectively. Discussion and conclusion: The most promising extracts were from N. lepideus and Polyporus squamosus, which are edible species and may be considered safe. Our findings support their use as culinary preparations or food supplements for various immunological gut disorders