Effect of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on the Growth and Production of Cellulase Enzymes of a Newly Isolated Aspergillus sp.

The culture filtrate obtained from a newly isolated Aspergillus sp. exhibited good activities against the filter paper as substrate. The optimum temperature and pH values for growth were 3'?C and 6.5, respectively. However, the optimum temperature and pH for the activities of the cellulase enzymes were recorded as 44'C and 4.5, respectively. Production of the enzymes in liquid medium reached its maximum level (9 units/ml) at the 15th day of incubation with an incubation period of up to 21 days. From the various carbon and nitrogen sources tested, carboxymethyl cellulose (medium viscosity) and (NH) 2 Fe(SO)2' 6H20 were found to be the best for cellulase enzyme production, whereas cellulose powder and NH/103 enhanced mycelial growth

Delignification Pretreatment of Palm-Press Fibres by Chemical Method

The chemical composition of the untreated palm-press fibres was estimated to be 39.9% cellulose, 28.9% hemicellulose, 20.3% lignin and 3.6% ash content. The concentrations of the chemicals used in the treatment of the fibres were 1.5% each of NaOH, Ca(OH)2' KOH, Na2COy 5.0% CO(NH)2 and aqueous ammonia solution. Of the chemicals tested. NaOH was the most efficient, having removed 60% of the lignin from the fibres after treatment for 24 hours using the spraying method. Comparative percentages for other chemicals tested were Na2CO/49%), NHpH (40%), Ca(OH)2 (38%), KOH (27%) and CO(NH)2 (21 %). The cellulose and hemicellulose content remained almost unchanged even after a prolonged period of treatment lJy these chemicals. The ash content was higher in fibres treated with NaOH and urea. The soaking method dissolved higher lignin content compared to the spraying method

Mycelial growth and germanium uptake by four species of ganoderma

Four Ganoderma species (G. tsugae, G. subamboinense var. laevisporium, A TCC 52419, G. tropicum and G. lucidum) were incubated in liquid medium containing different concentrations of germanium (Ge) for up to 20 days at 28 C. Increasing the Ge concentration of the medium resulted in a gradual decrease in the growth of the fungal mycelium. However, the Ge content in the mycelium increased with increasing Ge concentration. Different species recorded different levels of tolerance towards the Ge. In each case, the optimum concentration of the incorporated Ge in the medium was established as 100 mg/l for both optimal uptake of Ge by the fungal mycelium and optimal mycelial growth

Cellulase production by the Thermophilic Fungus, Thermoascus aurantiacus

Thermoascus aurantiacus was the most active cellulase producer of several thermphilic fungi tested. The optimum growth temperature for T. aurantiacus in liquid medium was 45° C and maximum cellulase production from filter paper occurred at 40°C. The optimum temperatue for {3-glucosidase and carboxymethylcellulase activity was 70° C; for filter paper degrading activity it was 65°C. Maximum activity was found at pH 5.0 for the filter paper degrading enzyme and glucosidase and pH 4.3 for carboxymethylcellulase activity

Degradation of cellulose by Aspergillus sp Trichoderma koninggii, and Myriococcum sp.

Culture filtrates obtained from Aspergillus sp, Trichoderma koningii and Myriococcum sp were shown to be active in degrading cotton wool and filter paper. The optimum temperature for growth for Aspergillus sp and T. Koningii occurred at 37° while that of Myriococcum at 45°-50°C. Optimum temperature for activity was recorded as 45° C for T. koningii and 40° C for Aspergillus sp and Myriococcum sp; the pH optima occurred at pH 5.0, 4.0 and 7.0 respectively. The action of these organisms on various cellulosic wastes was tested and pineapple waste was the most amenable to degradation. Synergistical studies using crude enzyme extracts indicated only a small increase in enzyme activity (40%)

Delignification of Palm-press Fibre by White-rot Fungi for Enzymic Saccharification of Cellulose

Palm-press fibres were inoculated with fungal mycelium of ten different isolates of white rotfungi namely: Pleurotus sajor-caju I, II and III; Pleurotus florida; Lentinula edodes I, II, III, IV and Vand Ganoderma lucidum. The inoculated fibres were incubated for a period ofup to three months. Of the fungi tested, Pleurotus sajor-caju I, III and P. florida were found to be the best lignin degraders, decreasing the lignin content by as much as 35 %. This corresponded to an increase of 21 % in the digestibility of the fibres. Lignin showed the largest proportionate loss during the growth of these fungi; cellulose and hemicellulose showed the lowest loss for incubation of up to two months. Degradation of hemicellulose seemed to take place later than lignin and cellulose. Some isolates ofL. edodes preferably attacked the lignin component while leaving the cellulose and hemicellulose untouched; its rate of degradation however, was slower than Pleurotus spp. G. lucidum was a poor lignin degrader and under the present conditions preferred to utilise hemicellulose rather than cellulose for growth

Efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in rats fed with high cholesterol diet

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the anti-cholesterol activities of Ganoderma lucidum on Sprague–Dawley white rats. Design/methodology/approach – Rats were divided into four groups with a sample size of six rats per groups. Different formula diets were given to each group for a period of six months. At regular intervals, blood samples were taken and analysed for the total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels. Findings – Administration of hyperlipidemia diet in rats fed with 1 per cent cholesterol diet caused an increase in the TC, TG, as well as LDL-C level as compared to the control. A decrease of 23.6 per cent in the HDL-C level was also noted. However, supplementation of the feed with G. lucidum (0.1 per cent) in rats decreased the TC, TG and LDL-C level significantly (P < 0.05) while further increased the plasma concentration of HDL-C. In the case of rats fed with diet containing a mixture of 1 per cent cholesterol and 0.1 per cent of Ganoderma, the lipid profile showed much higher readings (p < 0.05) compared to the chol group. Practical implications – The possible efficacy of G. lucidum in reducing the deposition of cholesterol in the wall of the blood vessels was indicated. Originality/value – This article provides useful information to health care providers and consumers

The nature of apoptosis of human breast cancer cells induced by three species of genus Ganoderma P. Karst. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) crude extracts

The cytotoxic effect of crude extracts of three Ganoderma species (G. lucidum, G. tropicum, and G. tsugae) was screened against the human estrogen-independent cell line, MDA-MB-435 using a microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The crude extract obtained from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum by hot water extraction procedures had IC50 values ranging from 140 to 350 μg mL−1. Acridine-orange/propidium iodine staining, electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy showed that the crude extract caused both apoptosis and necrosis. The G. lucidum mycelial crude extract was most effective, with an IC50 value of 148 μg mL−1

Cytotoxic activity induced by crude extracts of Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. on mouse myeloma cancer cell-line

Ganoderma lucidum powder using hot water and methanol extraction methods indicated a twofold more active cytotoxic activity with IC50 of 44 ± 3.8 μg/ml in the latter method. The representative dose-response curves of the G. lucidum crude extracts on J558 cell-lines revealed that there were great similarities between the curves which reflected rapid killing activities. The percentage viability of the J558 cell exposed to these crude extracts was dose dependent only up to 150 μg/ml. After which, there was no significant reduction when the dose was increased to 200 or 400 μg/ml. The morphological alterations induced by the crude extract were examined under the phase contrast, fluorescent and electron microscopy. When J558 cells were treated with doses higher than 50 μg/ml of the crude extract, obvious morphological changes and apoptosis occurred after 72 h. At 400 μg/ml, most of the cells showed necrosis characterized as small fragments with uniformly stained red nuclei. The apoptotic and necrotic cells increased by 16.5 and 29.1%, respectively whereas the viable cells decreased by as much as 45.6. The mode of cell death via apoptosis was 3.6% higher than necrosis. However, these morphological changes were not observed in the case of 3T3 cells. Results obtained from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy further confirmed the occurrence of various apoptotic and necrotic features